college park revitalization

College Park is getting a major revamp

College Park (a.k.a. Barbara Ann Scott Park) is one of those public spaces in Toronto that could be so much better. A concrete wasteland that's only notable attribute over the last few years was its kindness to flocks of pigeons, it's a picture of unfulfilled urban potential.

Dating back to the 1980s, the nearly two acre urban space used to look a lot better. There was a community skating rink and some nice shade provide by strategically planted trees, but since the 2012 closure of the rink the site had become an urban purgatory, a blank space in the heart of the city.

college park revitalization

Plans were announced last spring for a revitalization project with Section 37 funds from the nearby Aura development, but the commencement of the project was slow. The good news today is that the Downtown Yonge BIA has injected $250,000 into the project and a timeline has been set for the completion of the work.

Demolition and clearing of the existing park began in spring and will continue throughout the summer. Come fall, construction of the new park will begin. The project is scheduled to be finished by summer 2017.

college park revitalization

So what do we have to look forward to? The new urban space will feature a skating trail and pavilion for change and warm up, a reflecting pond, completely new landscaping features, and connection pathways between Yonge, Gerrard, and Bay streets.

It's about time this space lived up to its potential.


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in City

This cliffside park is a hidden gem with some of the most stunning views in Toronto

Toronto neighbourhood gets new garbage bins after years of complaining

Factory that was once a fixture on Toronto's skyline is now completely demolished

Toronto park connected to huge trail system is a hotspot for glimpsing wildlife

Toronto may finally start cracking down on out of control rat problem

Shocking hit-and-run video in Toronto shows driver slamming person into side of truck

Street literally set on fire outside of Toronto's sketchiest McDonald's

TTC route is changing for the second time in a month due to excessive gridlock