Don Valley ReConnects proposes a unique opportunity to transform approximately 40 acres of land currently occupied by a private golf course into public parkland. The name reflects the environmental and social connections that can be achieved through the project including: trail connections, spaces for community gathering, spaces for wildlife habitat and improved links to the surrounding neighbourhood. We hope to connect with you to understand how we can best implement these important initiatives.
The Project Partners and team are committed to working closely with the local community to meaningfully discuss ideas and opportunities for the parkland so that everyone is able to access and enjoy this space.
This website provides updates on the project as it moves through the planning process and opportunities for community members to ask questions about the project.
In late 2022, the project team hosted a series of small group meetings with local community members and groups to discuss the project and identify important considerations and opportunities to be explored. A larger open house on December 5, 2022 shared a preview of the application for further community feedback.
The completed project application was submitted to the City and TRCA for review on February 13, 2023. Stay tuned for future events as the project progresses.
Don Valley ReConnects proposes a unique opportunity to transform approximately 40 acres of land currently occupied by a private golf course into public parkland. The name reflects the environmental and social connections that can be achieved through the project including: trail connections, spaces for community gathering, spaces for wildlife habitat and improved links to the surrounding neighbourhood. We hope to connect with you to understand how we can best implement these important initiatives.
The project partners and team are committed to working closely with the local community to meaningfully discuss ideas and opportunities for the parkland so that everyone is able to access and enjoy this space. The community consultation process will clarify the purpose and components of the proposed parkland and foster a dialogue with the community about various exciting site opportunities.
40 New Acres of Parkland
The parkland has potential to deliver significant environmental and social benefits, including:
- New convenient and safe public access to the Don Valley and River
- Completion of the East Don Trail in the preferred riverside location
- Opportunity for development of the Loop Trail, a key element of Toronto’s Ravine Strategy
- Improving connections to The Meadoway
- Supporting a connected ring of regional destinations
40 New Acres of Parkland
The parkland has potential to deliver significant environmental and social benefits, including:
- New convenient and safe public access to the Don Valley and River
- Completion of the East Don Trail in the preferred riverside location
- Opportunity for development of the Loop Trail, a key element of Toronto’s Ravine Strategy
- Improving connections to The Meadoway
- Supporting a connected ring of regional destinations
Restoring the Landscape
The current use of the land has resulted in a manicured and treated landscape with diminished natural features, habitats and ecological systems.
Transforming the golf course lands into public parkland will support ecological restoration and enhance environmental health and resiliency.
The golf course land use has also limited the completion of pedestrian and cycling networks along the river. Don Valley ReConnects will complete the missing links in the Don Valley Trail and The Meadoway and give the public easy access to an uninterrupted trail from Lake Ontario to the north end of Toronto.
Restoring the Landscape
The current use of the land has resulted in a manicured and treated landscape with diminished natural features, habitats and ecological systems.
Transforming the golf course lands into public parkland will support ecological restoration and enhance environmental health and resiliency.
The golf course land use has also limited the completion of pedestrian
and cycling networks along the river. Don Valley ReConnects will complete the missing links in the Don Valley Trail and The Meadoway and give the public easy access to an uninterrupted trail from Lake Ontario to the north end of Toronto.
Indigenous Placekeeping
The Don Valley ReConnects project is an opportunity to recognize, showcase, and celebrate Indigenous culture and ways of life.
The Project Partners have initiated detailed dialogue with Traditional Territory and Rights Holders to introduce the project, discuss objectives and areas of alignment, and explore potential partnerships around the public parkland and indoor cultural programming space.
The ongoing discussions are exploring on-site Indigenous-led programming opportunities, spaces for environmental and cultural awareness, and ecological restoration. The project team welcomes ongoing dialogue with Traditional Territory and Rights Holders, Indigenous agencies/organizations, and Indigenous communities as the application review process advances.
Indigenous Placekeeping
Through the Don Valley ReConnects project, there is a unique opportunity for partnerships with Indigenous communities and organizations to recognize, showcase, and celebrate Indigenous culture and ways of life.
The partners will explore on-site Indigenous-led programming opportunities, spaces for environmental and cultural awareness, and ecological restoration.
Rethinking Residential Development
To make the parkland possible, the project partners are proposing to build a residential development on a small portion of the site (approximately 5% of the site area).
Four residential buildings with heights of 42 to 56 storeys are proposed along St. Dennis Drive, within a short walk of the Wynford LRT Station. The residential buildings are proposed to include a range of housing types and sizes, including over 100 affordable housing units, and space for cultural/educational programming.
The buildings have been designed to respond to the local existing and planned context and have been strongly influenced by the surrounding natural landscape.
The base building’s sinuous shape has been inspired by the nearby flow of water. The thin, porous base building blurs the lines between the valley and St.Dennis Drive and provides maximum visual transparency, ensuring constant views from St. Dennis Drive through to the valley.
New public pedestrian and cycling networks to and through the development site will also ensure easy access to the parkland.
Rethinking Residential Development
To make the parkland possible, the project partners are proposing to build a residential development on a small portion of the site (less than 5% of the site area).
Four residential buildings are proposed along St. Dennis Drive, within a short walk of the Wynford LRT Station. The residential buildings are proposed to include a range of housing types and sizes, including affordable housing, as well as space for cultural/ecological programming.
The proposed buildings’ architecture is based on a ‘landscape-first’ approach, carefully designed to reflect and respond to the surrounding water and valley landscapes. The building design ensures that the parkland is constantly visible through the buildings to everyone travelling along St. Dennis Drive.
New public pedestrian and cycling networks to and through the development site will also ensure easy access to the parkland.
Celebrating Art and Culture
The parkland will tell the story of the Don Valley and highlight the role of nature and Indigenous culture in the city.
Through public art and place-keeping initiatives the project will complement other Don Valley initiatives by creating additional opportunities for public art at various scales. The public consultation process will include opportunities to discuss public art and cultural expression.
Celebrating Art and Culture
The parkland will tell the story of the Don Valley and highlight the role of nature and Indigenous culture in the city.
Through public art and place-keeping initiatives the project will complement other Don Valley initiatives by creating additional opportunities for public art at various scales. The public consultation process will include opportunities to discuss public art and cultural expression.
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