City of Toronto’s newest Park: Biidaasige in the Port Lands

This park has it all, enormous animal sculpture playgrounds (an owl and a raccoon), a couple of ziplines, a water feature, bathrooms, trails and plenty more and I just found out it is now on a new island. Biidaasige Park was built in two phases with the main playground area opening first, later another block will open in 2026. The historic firehall will open later this fall as a public space.

Toronto’s newest island, Ookwemin Minising (pronounced “oh-kway-min min-nih-sing” meaning “place of the black cherry trees”), was created as part of a massive redevelopment as well as flood protection works for the sometimes mighty Don River. Biidaasige Park is located on the south east corner of Cherry and Commissioners streets with a large parking lot across Commissioners Street. First the 50 acre park opens then the revitalization will ultimately house tens of thousands residents and provide thousands of jobs.

From the City's media release, "Visitors to Biidaasige Park (pronounced “bee-daw-sih-geh” and meaning “sunlight shining toward us” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin) will discover an array of features designed for all ages and interests. Highlights of the 2025 opening include picnic areas, a vibrant playground featuring larger-than-life animal sculptures representing Anishinaabe, Ongwehonwe, and Huron dodems, Toronto’s first ziplines, and a recreation waterplay feature, the Badlands Scramble. The park also boasts recreational trails and cycling paths, including step-downs to the river for fishing and birdwatching, slips for non-motorized boats, and the Don Greenway wetland for birdwatching. Two dog off-leash areas and a pebble landing area for watercraft further enhance the visitor experience."

Mayor Olivia Chow said, “Today is a historic day for Torontonians with the opening of Biidaasige Park – the largest park in a generation and a beautiful space along the city’s Eastern Waterfront. Thanks to our partnership with the federal and provincial governments and Indigenous partners, we have advanced $2.4 billion to support this new community and advance Indigenous placekeeping in Toronto. Today’s opening of a new park and river are a significant first milestone.”

See more photos of the park after the jump.

Undercover Atlas Crane at Cherry Street

Something is getting a facelift in the new Cherry Beach Port Lands area and it looks like an old crane down near Cherry Beach. This crane is a designated heritage structure and is named the Atlas Crane, part of the Toronto Port Terminal and built in 1961. Right now the main structure is shrouded in tarps as environmental protection for the sandblasting process.

The 300-ton Atlas crane will become part of the neighbourhood's skyline against downtown Toronto, located along the remaining channel (the old Polson Slip) and will become part of a new park called Biidaasige Park.

Before the coverup

New Cherry Street Bridge in Toronto

As the City of Toronto works to rebuild the Port lands at the outlet of the Don River, one of the first changes to come to the site is the installation of a new bridge along the future alignment of Cherry Street. It will soon be joined by a twin at the Keating Channel crossing - one for vehicular traffic and one for the public transit. At this time they placed the first new bridge, about 100m west of the current bridge which will remain in place until the new bridge is open.

The old bridge operators structure perched above the bridge to allow a better view

Portlands construction started in 2017 with the completion estimated into 2024. As part of the port lands work the Don Valley outlet will follow a new river course turning part of the lands into Villiers Island which will be developed and include a residential component.

The current Cherry Street Bascule Bridge is a lift bridge built in 1968 that kind of got stuck in the up position recently. After approximately 1 month the bridge was dropped back into place after extensive work and you can see it stuck in my post here.

Here is an overall map from WaterFRONToronto of the planned port lands development proposal based on a number of precincts.

Cherry Street bridge stuck

I mean this bridge has had enough, the boss keeps wanting it to go up and down, endlessly and probably without a word of thanks. So the bridge built in 1968 is just off Lake Shore Boulevard and is stuck in the up position since August 2nd, 2019 due to mechanical/electrical failure. Unless you want to try to jump the harbour you will have to enter the area from the east.

The City of Toronto has provided an update to their plans to get the bridge working again by hiring a specialized bridge engineering firm. "The work is complex and will require multiple stages to complete, including securing the bridge to remove the malfunctioning components, large cranes to lower the bridge, and inspections. The work will be performed in a way that prioritizes safety for everyone involved, including the public and the workers." Estimates suggest that repairs could take approximately one month to complete and the bridge is supposed to be replaced within the next year and a half during the Port Lands Flood Protection Program. "The City of Toronto and Ports Toronto appreciate everyone's patience as we work through this situation as quickly and safely as possible. Detour signage will remain in place. Motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who want to access or return from the port lands while the bridge work is underway can use the Don Roadway, Carlaw Avenue or Leslie Street."

Update August 28, 2019: The Cherry Street bridge is being lowered over several hours today. The detours will remain in place for about a week as the bridge will be inspected before it is put back in service.

From the City; "The Cherry Street bridge over the Keating Channel will be lowered to a horizontal position today. Once lowered, the bridge will be locked in place and engineers will begin structural inspections to ensure it is safe and passable before access can be re-instated for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Lowering the bridge, a complex process involving a crane and winch system, is expected to take up to several hours. There could be delays if the wind picks up while the bridge is being lowered. Structural inspections will take a few more days and the aim is to re-instate bridge access within a week."

Update August 30, 2019: The bridge is down!

From the City: Access to Toronto's Cherry Street bridge returns in time for long weekend
The Cherry Street bridge over the Keating channel will be reinstated for public access, including motorists, cyclists and pedestrians just in time for Labour Day weekend. Members of the public wishing to use the bridge to access/return from the port lands will be able to do so by approximately 7 p.m. tonight.

The bridge was safely lowered into a horizontal position on Thursday. Once down, engineers immediately began work to lock the bridge in place and perform structural inspections to ensure the bridge was safe and passable for the public.

The City of Toronto and PortsToronto appreciate everyone's patience as we worked through this situation as quickly and safely as possible."

"It has been a long and arduous task for PortsToronto and City staff to reinstate the Cherry Street bridge safely and I'm pleased that crews were able to reopen this crucial link to the Port Lands in time for the long weekend. Thank you to all the residents and local businesses who rely on this bridge for their patience throughout this process."
- Mayor John Tory

Brainfreeze Toronto Polar Bear Dip

Cherry Beach is the place to be for the second annual polar bear dip for youth mental health with jack.org.

"Join us on December 1st for our Second Annual Brainfreeze, now in three Cities (Montreal, Vancouver, and Toronto). It's energizing, exciting, and Instagrammable from tide in to tide out. People of all ages gather in subzero temperatures and voluntarily jump in freezing water. If you're looking to #DoSomething for youth mental health, this is a blissful way to do it."

See more of the dip after the jump.

Cavalia's Odysseo in #Toronto

Update: I somehow reposted this from a couple of years ago. Sorry it is not back in Toronto yet.

Even the tent is extraordinary, the white tent on Cherry Street that holds the new production of Cavalia Odysseo has a metal exoskeleton holding up the 4 peaked covering - it's not a tent, it's a castle. Beside the white big top set up in the Portlands is a line of smaller tents, probably holding the 71 horses that are involved with this show.

Cavalia's second show Odysseo gallops into Toronto starting May 15, 2012.

’With this new creation, Cavalia marries the equestrian arts, stage arts and high-tech theatrical effects at never-before-seen levels. We’ve created a veritable revolution in live performance: the world’s largest touring big top, the biggest stage, the most beautiful visual effects, and the greatest number of horses at play. Most importantly, it’s a world of happiness’’

Don River changes in the Port Lands

Toronto is about to undergo massive changes to the Don River and the Port Lands as the city looks at naturalizing and creating a new channel for the river. There will even be a new island called Villiers Island. Hundreds of tiny blue flags have been planted on the east side of the street to show a new channel along Cherry Street, near the T&T Supermaket.

"The Port Lands was once the largest natural wetland in Lake Ontario. Beginning in the 1900s, this area was gradually infilled to make more land available to serve the city’s growing industrial and shipping sectors. Today, the Port Lands still serves as a working port and houses a variety of light industrial and other services; but, for the most part, it’s a massive underutilized, contaminated brownfield site in the middle of a flood plain."

By adding wetlands, open spaces and parks the city hopes to reduce the impact of flooding and open up additional development in the area. The area which is known for its beaches and view of Toronto's skyline will also see a considerable amount of mixed use residential and commercial development.

@batlgroundsaxe BATL Axe Throwing

This is a games of darts played by the gods, darts on steroids, with hair-splitting steel flying through the air in a competition so intense it makes a game of chess a relative snoozefest. BATL, home of axe throwing since 2006, has several locations in Toronto (Toronto East, Toronto West and Toronto Yorkdale) and around Ontario, including Pickering and Kitchener-Waterloo.

We were invited to a friendly match-up with the Bands from the Beach (a nice group of fourteen), so we hit the Toronto East location near Cherry Beach (33 Villiers Street), which includes free on-site parking. I was intrigued that the facility provides group throwing areas complete with fridges. You can bring your own beverages and keep them cold during the matches!

"Booking for private events such as birthdays, bachelor/ bachelorette parties, corporate team building etc. are available daily, with start times ranging from 12 noon to 8pm. BATL is open for League play on Sundays from 5-8pm and Monday through Wednesday from 7-10pm."

We were provided with two instructors who looked after our group, split out along four adjacent throwing lanes, and provided with personal instruction in axe throwing and safety. After some practice throws we got down to a cutthroat competition, which I quickly lost. Some people take to the sport like a duck to pudding, I was one of them. 

One of Ann's several bullseyes

My rare bullseye just made it in

The cost was $45 plus tip, and you might not join a league after playing, but darn it is a fun way to spend a day and it is not something that a lot of people do so it is good water cooler talk at the office.

The wall of champions. If you look close you can't see my name

@Cirque #Kurios in #Toronto

Exterminate, exterminate! Sorry, wrong robot. A full sized Kurios robot is locked in a crate at the Eaton Centre. The quirky robot, assembled from scraps, is one of many that help put on the Cirque Du Soleil show in the Portlands from August 28 to October 26, 2014.

A cabinet of curiosities

"What if you could alter reality at will? Delve into a world of curiosity where seeing is disbelieving: the world of KURIOS – Cabinet of Curiosities from Cirque du Soleil. The show immerses you in a mysterious and fascinating realm that disorients your senses and challenges your perceptions, leaving you to wonder: "Is it real, or just a figment of my imagination?"

Cherry Beach ball drop

A crane was setup in the otherwise empty parking lot along Cherry Street in #Toronto. The crane supported two people hanging from a rope and each of the people held onto a large red ball. A long rope ran from the people to a scissor lift where several assistants on the ground tugged on the rope, bringing the people high into the air ready for gravity to move them swiftly along a circular trajectory skimming only metres above the hard asphalt. Nearing the bottom of the slope the people let go of the balls which dropped towards a circular, white target. Actually, watching the video it turns out the balls were thick water balloons. One didn't even break on the drop, someone threw it up in the air and then it exploded on contact - see the video below.

It very much seemed like an episode of Mythbusters was being filmed.

Cirque: Amaluna in #Toronto

There are two big-top tents in the Portlands along Cherry Street right now - Cavalia's Odysseo and the new Cirque Du Soleil Amaluna. Horses are playing in the white tent near Lake Shore Boulevard and the Cirque tent is blue and yellow located across from the T&T Supermarket.

When the Odysseo's tent first showed up I thought it was a Cirque production, it turns out it was started by one of the co-founders of Cirque du Soleil - it is coming to a close on September 9, 2012. Cirque has had a few tents set up in the area over the years and their new show starts September 6, 2012.

"Amaluna invites the audience to a mysterious island governed by Goddesses and guided by the cycles of the moon. Their queen, Prospera, directs her daughter’s coming-of-age ceremony in a rite that honours femininity, renewal, rebirth and balance which marks the passing of these insights and values from one generation to the next. In the wake of a storm caused by Prospera, a group of young men lands on the island, triggering an epic, emotional story of love between Prospera’s daughter and a brave young suitor. But theirs is a love that will be put to the test. The couple must face numerous demanding trials and overcome daunting setbacks before they can achieve mutual trust, faith and harmony."

LOVE and yellow happy face hearts in #Toronto

Gregory Alan Elliott continues to make his presence know at Cherry Beach. His LOVE traffic signs and happy face hearts are sprinkled liberally throughout the park lands and streets in the Portlands district. The yellow hearts are fun to find, their bright colour makes them easy to spot and you don't know who put them there - Gregory doesn't sign them, so the mystery factor is quite high. Plus they are so happy.

Honesty is the best poetry is one of his more well know signs and you can find typically find them high up on hydro poles, just out of reach. The artist and poet's work can be found in Kensington Market and along the Queen and Spadina graffiti alleys. See more signs after the jump.

Cool weekend on #Toronto beaches

On what would be a typically crowded summer weekend the rain and cool temperatures kept many sun and sand worshipers off the beaches. At Ashbridges Bay a smaller group of beach volleyball players joined in the Not So Pro league play while later in the day the high winds brought out plenty of kite surfers at Cherry Beach.

Dramatic clouds filled the sky until rain finally fell on Toronto

notsopro.com league play

See more photos after the jump.

Baby Swans at Cherry Beach

Not so little, but still cute and adorable. The large white baby swans look for food with their mother along the shores of #Toronto Cherry Beach.

The iconic Cherry Beach lifeguard station is staffed to protect swimmers on the beach.

A wee green life preserver sits on the rocky beach. I hope it wasn't official life guard rescue equipment.