Ontario Construction News staff writer
Toronto, ON — A new community destination, Leslie Lookout Park, has officially opened, bringing an artificial public beach and stunning views to Toronto’s east end. Located along the Martin Goodman Trail near Tommy Thompson Park, the park aims to serve as a multi-use hub for residents and visitors.
The centerpiece of the park is a 0.77-hectare (1.9-acre) open space at 12 Leslie Street, designed to connect the public to the water’s edge with breathtaking views of Toronto’s Ship Channel. This innovative space promises year-round programming, including pop-up events, concerts and public art installations, offering a unique lookout experience with a west-facing view of the downtown skyline and a panoramic 360-degree vista of the Port Lands.
Leslie Lookout Park showcases a commitment to climate resilience, featuring porous asphalt for runoff filtration, a first for a park in Toronto, thus minimizing reliance on the city’s stormwater system.
The park’s features include:
- A Miyawaki-inspired mini-forest with about 5,000 native plants
- A 13.5-metre (44-foot) tall lookout tower
- Stadium seating leading up to the lookout tower, alongside benches and picnic tables throughout the park
- Bike storage with 50 locking spots and a bike repair station
Designed by CCxA and developed by CreateTO, the park repurposes an underutilized industrial parcel of city-owned land, creating a vital link between the urban landscape and the natural areas south of Unwin Avenue within Tommy Thompson Park.
Honouring Indigenous Communities
In March 2023, a mural depicting the Great Anishinaabe Migration, created by Indigenous artist and architectural designer Dani Kastelein-Longlade of Brook McIlroy, was installed on the construction hoarding surrounding the site. The artwork depicted on this mural interprets the path of travel through the seven sites of the chi-bi-moo-day-win’, the Great Anishinaabe Migration and is part of Brook McIlroy’s Indigenous placemaking strategy for the park.
In a nod to the site’s significance, the park’s opening ceremony included Indigenous elements, such as a ceremonial fire held in a circle, reflecting the collaborative effort in its design. The lookout tower features openings to the sky and the four cardinal directions, symbolizing the importance of Indigenous placemaking.
“Leslie Lookout Park marks the dawn of a new chapter in the continued development of our beautiful city,” said Mayor Olivia Chow at the opening. “This thoughtfully designed space invites visitors to immerse themselves in a harmonious blend of breathtaking views and serene landscapes. Leslie Lookout Park is set to become a cherished retreat that will invite everyone to pause, take in the view and rejuvenate.”
As the first major public space to open in the revitalized Port Lands area, Leslie Lookout Park not only enhances the local environment but also enriches the community’s recreational offerings, establishing a vibrant new landmark for the city.
