-0-1280-0-720-crop-fill.jpg?k=61bcc81956 "Mike Mills reflects on his feelings-forward approach to filmmaking • Journal • A Magazine • , Life in canada")
Less than a year after Toronto opened its largest new park in a generation, the waterfront Biidaasige Park is, well, already getting bigger.
The first phase of Biidaasige Park officially opened last year July on Ookwemin Minising, bringing more than 50 acres of new green space to the Port Lands, complete with Toronto’s first ziplines, cycling paths and a sprawling playground filled with larger-than-life animal sculptures.
There’s even a 30-foot Snowy Owl structure, which boasts a stage built into its belly, so kids can perform for fun or play with its sound features!
Now, another 10 acres are set to open on July 25, pushing the park toward the Inner Harbour with even more trails and waterfront spaces. Features include a designated pebble beach for launching small watercraft, a historic Fire Hall with space for recreation programming as well as the Water’s Edge Promenade, which offers scenic views of the Toronto Islands and downtown skyline.
Art is also a major part of the experience. Visitors can stroll through the Lassonde Art Trail: the free outdoor art destination is made up of 15 interconnected public art sites along 4.2 kilometres of paths through the park. Several works opened to the public last month, with a few more coming in late July.
Another landmark to look out for this year is the 300-ton Atlas Crane! The massive structure was installed in 1961 just west of the Cherry Street South Bridge, and once formed part of Marine Terminal 35, where it loaded and unloaded cargo, including old TTC streetcars shipped to Cairo. The terminal was destroyed by fire in 2017, but the crane survived and is now one of the last structures of its kind on the Great Lakes. The designated heritage structure is being restored and incorporated into Biidaasige Park as a reminder of the Port Lands’ industrial past.
Really, it’ll be hard to miss: the crane overlooks Canoe Cove and will be lit at night as a wayfinding feature.
And Biidaasige Park still isn’t finished. A section at the northwest corner of Ookwemin Minising is expected to open in 2028 with a skating trail, water access and the landing point for the future Keating Equinox Bridge.
The park just gives you another reason to head back to the waterfront this summer, but if you need more inspo, here are some tips on how to spend a perfect day at Biidaasige Park.
