TORONTO– Toronto’s waterfront reached a major milestone recently with the opening of 10 new acres in the western section Biidaasige Park.
According to Waterfront Toronto, visitors can paddle from Canoe Cove, explore a naturalized river valley, gather on a 3,000-person event lawn, take in views of Lake Ontario and the Toronto skyline from the Water’s Edge Promenade, and experience the Lassonde Art Trail, which now features 15 installations from leading international artists throughout the park.
The project is part of Waterfront Toronto’s Port Lands Flood Protection (PLFP) projectPort Lands Flood Protection and Enabling Infrastructure – Villiers IslandStatusUnder ConstructionValue$80MLocationToronto ON M6R 2L2SectorPublic – CityTypeWater/SewerData as of July 29, 2026View Project Page →, which was funded by a $1.4 billion tri-government investment, including more than $465 million by the Government of Canada, more than $471 million by the Government of Ontario and more than $471 million by the City of Toronto.
The 10-acre expansion adds parkland almost the size of the Rogers Centre building and five times the size of Toronto’s Sugar Beach, the release adds. The portions of Biidaasige Park opened in 2025 and 2026 total approximately 60 acres, with an additional five acres of parkland still to come.
When complete, Biidaasige Park will be more than twice the size of Chicago’s Millennium Park.
Other public features include:
- The Atlas Crane, a preserved 300-ton marine cargo crane, installed in 1961 and decommissioned in the 2000s, and elements of the Marine Terminal 35.
- Existing and planned Indigenous design features, including a Fire Holder feature and Teaching Signifier Sturgeon Stones – both designed by Solomon King and Brook McIllroy. It also includes Directional Compasses/Marker Trees designed by Two Row Architect, and Interpretive Signage by NVision Insight Group.
The lead design was conducted by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc, who spent almost two decades planning and executing the Biidaasige Park project, Waterfront Toronto adds.
The PLFP project featured many elements, one of the key highlights being a new island created through flood protection, Ookwemin MinisingRFPQ (Qualifications) for a Developer – Ookwemin Minising Block A Development OpportunityStatusConceptualValue$10MLocationOokwemin St, Toronto ONSectorPublic – State/ProvincialTypeMulti-Residential · New ConstructionData as of July 29, 2026View Project Page →.
It will become a green, livable neighbourhood surrounded by Biidaasige Park. Over the next 25 years, Ookwemin Minising is envisioned to become home to approximately 21,000 people and support jobs for approximately 2,900 people.
Waterfront Toronto recently released a Request for Qualifications to secure a building partner for the first 700 homes on the island.
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