Hotel, residential development llisted for Ontario Place revamp

Dennis Hanagan –

Consultants expect to have a conceptual design in place by January to show the public how a new park planned for the east side of Ontario Place could look. It could open in two years.

At a Dec. 4 meeting, community members said they want it to have iconic features—like Ontario Place had when it first opened—picnic areas, native plants and viewing platforms.

Morah Fenning, assistant deputy tourism minister, told the meeting at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre that Ontario Place was iconic and groundbreaking with its architecture when it opened more than 40 years ago. In the 1980s more than three million people visited a year, but by 2010 annual attendance was down to 320,000.

Michael Chan, Ontario's tourism minister, addresses participants at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Below, left: People gather at the Open House to ask questions about the future of Ontario Place. Below, right: The circle outlines the east end of Ontario Place to be developed as a park. Right now, it's a parking lot.

Michael Chan, Ontario’s tourism minister, addresses participants at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Below, left: People gather at the Open House to ask questions about the future of Ontario Place. Below, right: The circle outlines the east end of Ontario Place to be developed as a park. Right now, it’s a parking lot.

“At the time it was built it appealed to a younger demographic. At that time the median age of Ontario residents was 27. Now it’s 41,” she told the gathering. Today, Ontarians have many kinds of recreational options available that has also pulled down attendance, she said.

In 2012 an advisory panel of business and community leaders advised the Ontario government about redeveloping the site. The government accepted all of their 18 recommendations.

They included using 15 to 20 per cent of the land for residential development, building a hotel or resort, offering space for commerce and businesses, operating year-round, showing leadership in environmental sustainability, and working with the private sector to improve public transit to the western lakeshore.

The panel was clear about what needs to be done, said Fenning. “We need to take our time to get it right. We have homework to do about the site.”

Calling Ontario Place “a precious asset” Fenning said the new 7.5 acre park and waterfront trail—which will connect the site to 780 kilometres of existing waterfront trail between Niagara-on-the-Lake and Cornwall—“will spark interest in the future of the site.”

More than 1,200 responses to an online survey this past summer indicated people want the park for exercise, rest and relaxation, festivals and events.

The goal is to have the park and trail open by 2015 in time for the Pan Am Games. “It’s an ambitious timeline,” Fenning said.