Christina Atkinson<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The weather’s heating up slowly but
\nsurely, and so is our transformational city. Down by the water has always been
\na popular destination for Torontonians to cool off and relax for the few
\nprecious warm months we have each year.<\/p>\n
Among NT students, many hop on a Ferry and “visit the Toronto Islands” as
\nwell as “bike trails”, says Kimberly Chau. Ahron Seeman enjoys
\n“playing volleyball on the beaches”, Julia Schabas “[goes] out
\nfor ice cream along the boardwalk”, and Claudia Vanderholst “[loves]
\nshopping along the waterfront.” It’s clear that our most southern asset is
\nquite a hot commodity when hanging out in the city, but what’s going on there
\nlately?<\/p>\n
Just two summers ago, Sugar Beach opened and featured soft sand, Muskoka chairs, and pink umbrellas spicing up the former industrial land.\u00a0 Since the success of Sugar Beach, Waterfront Toronto (created by all three levels of government) has managed the renewal of Toronto’s lake lining land. A $514 million dollar contract was signed at the
\nbeginning of this year to create top-notch athletic facilities, housing, and
\nstreet life for the 2015 Pan\/Parapan American Games. So, for the next few
\nsummers, your hot spot will start looking a little different.<\/p>\n
“It seems like every day there’s a new building being built,” says Rachele
\nFilippini, a resident of the Harbourfront and a grade twelve at NT. “There’s
\nmore and more people that want to live here it seems.”<\/p>\n
The growing popularity of the Harbourfront area began ever since Lionel H. Clarke
\nstarted making the most of it in 1911. As chairman of the newly formed Toronto
\nHarbourfront Commission, Clarke fought for improving our economy by harness the
\npotential of our waterways. Creating jobs and stimulating our Canadian economy
\nwas his vision for deepening Lake Ontario near Toronto. Larger ships meant
\nlarger potential, and it was finally achieved in 1959.<\/p>\n
Although he has passed on and \u00a0buried in the Mount
\nPleasant Cemetery, Clarke would be proud of the huge project currently underway
\nsince it’s creating and supporting 5,200 jobs, completing the next phase of the
\nWest Don Lands infrastructure project, and carving out new streets, a new YMCA
\nfacility, 787 new houses, 253 units of new, affordable housing, the first ever
\nGeorge Brown residence building, and new public transit routes.<\/p>\n
So perhaps you might not feel the effects of a stimulated economy right away, but
\nyou will be able to see the transformations downtown already.<\/p>\n
Jake Schabas, an urban plannerwith a Masters in Urban Planning from Columbia University in New York, says “The proposed plans
\nare extremely ambitious and optimistic, but at the same time incredibly
\nforward-thinking and practical. By that I mean they look to deal with
\nchallenges the city can’t avoid today so we are ready to deal with them in the
\nfuture.” They address the potential effects of the environment and society
\nlike rising water levels and increasing city congestion. “Plus, they are
\nbuilding parkland – about 750 acres, or almost as much as Central Park – to
\nmake new waterfront communities attractive places to live and regain formerly
\nneglected public spaces like the undersides of Highway off-ramps.”<\/p>\n
This amazing new space, the Don River Park, could, in fact, easily become a new
\nsummer hot spot. Only 15 minutes away from downtown in the new and upcoming
\nWest Don Lands neighbourhood, it will feature several parks in one with
\nstunning views of the lake, city landscape, and the Don River. Winding trails,
\nmulti-use bike paths, and a boardwalk will show off the grassy, rain-water
\nrecycling meadow formed to benefit from this unique geographical area. Start looking
\nforward to future concerts, sports games, and festivals being held in the
\npark’s amphitheatre, pavilion, and ample green space.<\/p>\n
Claudia\u00a0 wants “more green space and room for
\npicnic benches and playgrounds” and Kim agrees that “definitely more
\nleisure space for people to play, rest, and hang out” would be ideal.<\/p>\n
However,\u00a0Jake warns that “Too many banks and big box stores
\nwould not help this area become a place people want to spend time in, since
\nthey add nothing to the attractiveness of an area”, and Rob Ford’s
\n“kooky-sounding ideas like a Ferris wheel or some other odd attraction
\nwould also be dumb”.<\/p>\n
Regardless of the potential disappointments, these renewal plans have already won
\ninternational awards and deserve credit for these ideas. And, although
\nthis Waterfront project isn’t completed, it’s been accelerated because of the
\nPan\/Parapan American Games so it’s not too early to start putting on your
\nsunglasses to see these approaching possibilities in your own city.<\/p>\n
Maybe you won’t be heading off to a tropical resort down south or to a European backpacking trip this summer, but don’t worry, T.O. might be able to make our upcoming, two month staycation a little hotter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Christina Atkinson The weather’s heating up slowly but surely, and so is our transformational city. Down by the water has always been a popular destination for Torontonians to cool off and relax for the few precious warm months we … Continue reading