Ten acres have been added to Toronto’s Biidaasige Park.
The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature and Member of Parliament for Toronto–Danforth; Chi Nguyen, Member of Parliament for Spadina–Harbourfront; the Honourable Todd McCarthy, Ontario’s Acting Minister of Infrastructure; Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow; Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto–Danforth); and Chief Margaret Sault of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation officially marked the completion of another chapter in the transformation of the Port Lands.
The opening of the new western section of Biidaasige Park expands public access to a reimagined section of Toronto’s shoreline and reconnects people to both Lake Ontario and a new one-kilometre stretch of the Don River through nature, recreation, culture and public gathering spaces.
What was once industrial land is now a waterfront destination where nature, culture, recreation and climate resilience converge. Visitors can paddle from Canoe Cove, explore a naturalised 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 art with the unveiling of the western section of the Lassonde Art Trail, which, together with the eastern section, now features 15 installations from international artists throughout the park.
Part of Waterfront Toronto’s Port Lands Flood Protection (PLFP) project, funded by a $1.4bn tri-government investment including more than $465m by the Government of Canada, more than $471m by the Government of Ontario and more than $471m by the City of Toronto, Biidaasige Park demonstrates how cities can integrate flood protection, ecological restoration and public space into one connected vision.
Portions of Biidaasige Park added in 2025 and 2026 total approximately 60 acres, with an additional five acres of parkland still to come.
Last summer’s opening drew huge crowds eager to kayak along the shoreline, spot returning wildlife, join guided site tours and cycle the new routes. With those experiences already capturing the city’s imagination, this next phase adds even more to a park that is quickly becoming a Toronto landmark.
When complete, Biidaasige Park will be more than twice the size of Chicago’s Millennium Park which redefined that city’s modern identity by transforming a former rail yard and parking lot into an architectural and artistic tourist destination that now generates billions in economic revenue.
New public features include: Canoe Cove, a promontory, or elevated viewpoint, offering panoramic sightlines across the inner harbour and city skyline, 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 building, which celebrate the area’s industrial heritage.
Existing and planned Indigenous design features include 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 park also sees the western expansion of the 4km Lassonde Art Trail, featuring seven public art installations by artists Ryan Gander, Alexa Kumiko Hatanaka, Lisa Hirmer, Virginia Overton, and Hank Willis Thomas, with sculptures by Kent Monkman and Monira Al Qadiri to come this autumn.
Across the broader site, more than one million plants and approximately 5,000 trees have been introduced to support wetlands, fish habitats, native planting areas and naturalised shorelines. The restored Don River mouth and surrounding parklands are already creating conditions for wildlife and native plant species not seen on Toronto’s waterfront in more than a century. Early ecological monitoring indicates increased bird and pollinator activity throughout the area, including the return of species such as the great blue heron and razorbill.
These restored ecosystems are improving biodiversity, strengthening climate resilience and reconnecting people to the natural environment.
A new island created through flood protection, Ookwemin Minising, 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.
Biidaasige, pronounced “Bee-daw-si-geh,” means “sunlight shining toward us,” while Ookwemin Minising, pronounced “Oh-kway-min Min-ih-sing,” means “place of the black cherry trees” in Anishinaabewomin. Both names were gifted through an Indigenous-led naming circle convened by the City of Toronto.
The lead design was conducted by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates Inc, who spent almost two decades leading the planning and execution of the Biidaasige Park project. The landscape also includes plantings developed in consultation with Indigenous partners, ceremonial and interpretive elements, marker trees, the drum and other features that contribute to a deeper sense of meaning, identity and connection throughout the site.
Visitors can access the park through multiple public transportation options, including TTC buses and the East-West Water Shuttle, a seasonal water shuttle that docks just east of Canoe Cove on Ookwemin Minising, at the Yonge Slip, and Portland Slip.
In March 2026, the governments of Canada and Ontario also announced their commitment to a cost-sharing agreement alongside the City of Toronto to advance Waterfront East Rapid Transit Line – a landmark commitment that will unlock housing, connect communities and drive economic growth along Toronto’s eastern waterfront.
“Our government has been a consistent partner in the redevelopment of the Port Lands, and today marks another exciting milestone for Toronto’s waterfront. Residents and visitors now have even more opportunities to enjoy this extraordinary public space. We are proud to be investing over $465 million into the Port Lands Flood Protection (PLFP) project to protect communities, restore natural spaces and create vibrant places where people can connect with nature and one another,” said The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Minister of the Environment, Climate Change and Nature and Member of Parliament for Toronto – Danforth.
“Great cities are defined by the public spaces where people come together. The opening of these additional 10 acres of Biidaasige Park invites residents and visitors alike to explore Toronto’s waterfront, spend time in nature, and discover a remarkable new destination in the heart of the city. This is the kind of place that will bring people together and be enjoyed for generations to come,” said Chi Nguyen, Member of Parliament for Spadina – Harbourfront.
“The expansion of Biidaasige Park marks another milestone in our shared vision of a world-class Toronto waterfront. Together, we are building vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhoods that will bring approximately 14,000 new homes, including affordable units, and rapid transit to the eastern waterfront. Revitalizing the city’s waterfront is an important part of our government’s $236 billion capital plan to build stronger communities, create jobs and protect Ontario, “ said Todd McCarthy, Ontario’s Acting Minister of Infrastructure.
“Today marks another major milestone in the transformation of Toronto’s waterfront. What was once industrial land is now becoming one of the most ambitious waterfront revitalization projects in North America. People can paddle along the shoreline, enjoy public art, connect with nature and experience the city from an entirely new perspective. Together with our federal, provincial and Indigenous partners, we are building not only a world-class park, but complete communities with new homes, jobs and public spaces that will benefit generations to come,” said Olivia Chow, Mayor of Toronto.
“Biidaasige Park is more than a beautiful new gathering place, it is a reflection of what can be achieved when we work together to honour our Treaties, the land, the water, and the stories that have always belonged here. This park is located on Toronto Purchase Treaty lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit. We are proud to have contributed our knowledge, history, and teachings throughout the development of Biidaasige Park, and we hope that everyone who visits will gain a deeper appreciation for the history of this place and the importance of protecting and restoring the natural world for future generations,” said Margaret Sault, Chief of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.