Reshaping the site could require creating new lagoons to make it compatible with rest of park.

Reshaping the site is focused on restoring lagoons and wetlands to make it as compatible as possible with the natural features of the existing parkland on Toronto Island. This will help clean the polluted waters of Toronto Bay and provide a habitat for wildlife.

Within the more natural reshaped site, the objective is to ensure that a large majority of the 215 acres is reserved for parks, beach, recreational uses, natural lagoons and wetlands. The remainder of the site is meant to be used for attractions such as cultural venues, restaurants and visitor accommodations, which will help to turn the western portion of Toronto Island into a four-season destination.

5 Primary Zones

The proposal breaks the site into 5 primary zones.

Zone 1 includes the rehabilitation of the western beach on Humber Bay. Only a modest program will be required to restore the beach and dunes behind it.

Zone 2, behind the reclaimed beach, will require selective dredging to recreate and restore natural wetlands and lagoons. This will become a large natural site and will feature a boardwalk, similar to those found at other migratory bird centres, such as Point Pelee National Park. The Toronto Islands are already a bird migration flyway and bird sanctuary, and this zone will strengthen and reinforce the natural habitat that already exists on the island.

Zone 3 features active recreation facilities such as basketball, baseball, hockey, skating, soccer, rugby, tennis and track and field. This zone will be easily reached by the rapid ferry service at the foot of Bathurst St. These facilities will provide a major resource for all of west-central Toronto, an area the city identifies as needing a new district park. A number of the airport hangars lend themselves to easy conversion for indoor/outdoor recreation use.

Other buildings are suitable for conversion to arts, culture, entertainment and market type spaces, similar to those of the wildly successful Granville Island development in Vancouver.

Zone 4 is centred on the end of the main east/west runway, which projects into Toronto Bay as far as Spadina Avenue. It is undoubtedly the most spectacular site in all of downtown Toronto, a gem visible from all along the central waterfront. It is the location best suited to defining Toronto’s attitude to its waterfront.

This site will be an impressive location for a First Nations people’s cultural centre that the Mississaugas of the New Credit would like to build and manage. It could also be the site for public, environmentally friendly attractions such as a biosphere, an arts centre, a Great Lakes interpretation centre or a maritime museum.

Proposed Hanlons Square.

Zone 5 is the area around the current Hanlan’s Point ferry dock. In the new park, this area will reflect the 19th and early 20th century history of Hanlan’s Point, when it was Toronto’s premiere lakeside resort. This will be achieved by re-introducing a mix of small-scale overnight accommodations, restaurants and conference facilities, designed to operate year round.

Access to this dramatic extension of the island park will be achieved by using the existing year-round ferry at the foot of Eireann Quay, close to the Bathurst and Harbourfront/Exhibition streetcar lines. Instead of serving airport users, the ferry will carry tens of thousands of new park-goers, generating significant revenues for the city.

Smaller boats that can carry passengers will link the foot of Spadina to Hanlan’s Point. Similar smaller boats can link Ontario Place and other lakeside venues directly to the park.

The western end of Toronto Harbour and Hanlan’s Point will be reborn again. The waters will be criss-crossed with boats of all types, transporting one million or more visitors, tourists and Torontonians to a spectacular public park.