The new Biidaasige Park is the talk of the TOwn, and we can totally see why.
I have been playground-hopping for over 15 years and have come to love and appreciate so many of them, depending on the age, interest and moods of my kids in TOw. Toronto has some real gems, from more contemporary sustainable designs like Corktown Common (opened in 2013) and Grange Park behind the AGO (opened in 2017) to the oldies like ‘‘castle park’ (as named by my kids) at Kew Beach and the larger version, the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground, in High Park.
Now, even as my kids have pretty much aged out of that kind of play, I can’t turn off my playground-radar. So, with someone else’s kids in TOw, I checked out the new Biidaasige Park, a 50-acre parkland that opened last month on Ookwemin Minising, a new island in the city’s Port Lands. We have been watching the neighbourhood and park take shape, as the colourful bridges were installed and the larger-than-life owl perched itself off Commissioners St.
The new public space ticks all the boxes: a massive creatively and sustainably built playground with huge raccoon and owl sculptures (the latter to be used as a theatre), ziplines and a very cool teeter totter type swing (the teens in TOw will like) and waterplay and shade for the littles and their parents in TOw, plus all the typical must-haves like slides, swings and sandboxes. There is lots of seating and picnic areas with BBQs.
What’s next: Biidaasige Park, pronounced Bee-daw-sih-geh meaning “sunlight shining towards us” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwewomin, is still a work in progress. It’s part of a much larger billion-dollar flood protection initiative led by Waterfront Toronto, with all three levels of government. The naturalization of the mouth of the Don River protects close to 200 hectares of land in the Port Lands and eastern waterfront from flooding and has unlocked space for future mixed-use neighbourhoods. (Ookwemin Minising will be home to more than 15,000 residents.) The second phase of Biidaasige Park, creating an additional 10 acres of public space is set to open in 2026.
TRIP TIPS:
Getting there: The new park is located at 51 Commissioners Street on Ookwemin Minising island along Toronto’s eastern waterfront. (The closest intersection is Cherry Street and Commissioners Street.)
By bike, the park is connected to the Martin Goodman Trail. A Bike Share station is available on-site. By TTC, the 114 Queen’s Quay East bus stops along Cher and Commissioners Street. The 72D Pape bus will go directly to the park on weekends and holidays. By car, there is a small temporary lot with free parking.
Get this: the park has areas for canoe and kayak landings.
Potty time: No public bathrooms yet.
In the hood: For families in TOw, Cherry Beach and The Docks (driving range) are further south along Cherry St. Cherry Beach soccer fields and the playground (pirate ship!) are east on Unwin Ave. For the adults in TOw, BATL Grounds (axe throwing) For eating, Cherry Street Bar-B-Que.
Recent Comments