A once-in-a-generation Toronto park that officially opened up last summer is getting even bigger this year, with the addition of a curated art trail, waterfront promenade, and more lookout points.
Biidaasige Park (pronounced “bee-daw-si-geh”) translates to “sunlight shining toward us” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin, and is located near Cherry Street on the artificial island of Ookwemin Minising (“place of the black cherry trees”) in Toronto’s Port Lands.
The first phase of the massive, 50-acre park opened up last July, and featured the city’s first ziplines, animal sculptures representing Anishinaabe, Ongwehonwe, and Huron dodems, the Badlands Scramble play area, inspired by Ontario’s Cheltenham Badlands, the Snowy Owl Theatre, cycling paths, and two dog-off-leash areas.
Already considered one of the largest parks in the city, Biidaasige Park will be expanding to include an additional 10 acres this year. The Lassonde Art Trail, a key feature of the expansion, is a series of 15 interconnected public art sites that spans over 4.2 kilometres of paths along the waterfront.
Back in June, the trail’s first seven sculptures were unveiled to the public, and the next section is anticipated to open up in late July.
New aerial photos of the park’s extension show expanded trails, lookouts, and a new waterfront promenade built on the former Marine Terminal 35 site, which provides views of the Inner Harbour, the Toronto Islands, and the city’s skyline.
Pictures also show the Atlas Crane, which is expected to be completed this year. Located just west of the Cherry Street South Bridge, the crane is one of the last surviving heavy-duty cranes of its time.
Originally installed in 1961, the crane was used for loading and unloading cargo to Marine Terminal 35, including old TTC streetcars. The crane was ultimately decommissioned as part of the Port Lands Flood Protection initiative, but has since been designated as a heritage structure.
The restored crane features cladding around its base and is painted with anti-climbing paint to discourage any park visitors from climbing it, and will be lit at night to serve as a wayfinding element.
Over the next few years, the park will be expanded even further. Biidaasige Park North, which will be located at the northwest corner of Ookwemin Minising, is expected to open sometime in 2028.
According to the City, features of this park will include a skating trail, a new lookout, washrooms, water access, event infrastructure, and the landing point of the Keating Equinox Bridge.
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