Toronto Unveils Leslie Lookout Park in Port Lands

On September 14, 2024, Mayor Olivia Chow, alongside Councillor Paula Fletcher and representatives from CreateTO and City of Toronto staff, inaugurated Leslie Lookout Park in the Port Lands area of Toronto.

The newly opened park is located near the Martin Goodman Trail at the entrance to Tommy Thompson Park. It features an artificial public beach and is designed as a multi-use community destination in Toronto’s east end. Central to Leslie Lookout Park’s appeal is a 1.9-acre open space at 12 Leslie Street. This area provides public access to the water’s edge and offers sweeping views of the entire length of Toronto’s Ship Channel.

The park design incorporates a variety of components aimed at attracting visitors throughout the year. It hosts pop-up events, concerts, and public art installations. Furthermore, a unique lookout experience is provided by a striking view of the downtown core and a breathtaking 360-degree vista of the Port Lands.

The park introduces porous asphalt, a first for Toronto’s public parks, which filters runoff water and decreases dependence on the city’s stormwater system. This initiative marks another step toward climate-resilient infrastructure in Toronto.

Leslie Lookout Park includes numerous features designed to serve the community, ranging from a beach and a Japanese-style mini-forest to a 13.5-metre lookout tower offering expansive views of Toronto’s skyline, the Islands, and the Harbour. Toronto Bike Share docking stations are strategically located to promote accessibility.

CreateTO led the development and financing for the park, which transformed an underutilized industrial site into a public space, enhancing the connection between the urban environment and natural areas such as Tommy Thompson Park.

In homage to Indigenous contributions to the park’s design, a ceremonial fire and circle marked the opening ceremony. Indigenous placemaking elements, like the lookout tower featuring openings to the sky and the four cardinal directions, are integral to the park’s design.

The park, which cost $8.5 million to develop, was initially announced by former Mayor John Tory in 2021. Spearheaded by Councillor Paula Fletcher over a decade ago, the project was brought to fruition through the vision of Claude Cormier + Associés. The park serves not only as a public retreat but also as a tribute to the late Claude Cormier, the lead designer whose legacy continues to shape Toronto’s waterfront.