-0-1280-0-720-crop-fill.jpg?k=17eed16723 "Willem Dafoe reflects on some of the most memorable roles of his career • Journal • A Magazine • , Life in canada")
The fenced gravel lot at Queen St W and Augusta Ave is set to become a new gathering place filled with shaded seating and playful design details inspired by the neighbourhood.
The 820-square-metre park is planned for 464-470 Queen St. W. in Alexandra Park. The site currently consists of an empty lot and a neighbouring building that will be demolished to make way for the new public space.
According to the City, the park will give visitors a “much-needed break from the hustle and bustle of the city.” At its centre will be a circular gathering space, anchored by a large feature tree, with a shaded grove and layered planting beds that will wrap around the open area. Visitors can also expect benches and bistro-style tables and chairs to sit and relax or meet up with friends.
But some of the park’s most distinctive details will be right under your feet. Decorative paving extending from the Queen and Augusta intersection will form a “Q” in reference to the park’s Queen West location. The pattern will also incorporate a turtle (representing Turtle Island), an idea that emerged through engagement with Indigenous community members.
Other elements will be woven throughout the park to create opportunities for “storytelling and discovery,” including strategically placed large stones and a decorative trench drain designed to express the movement of water.
A pathway winding through the planting area will connect the park to 15 Denison Ave., creating a quieter entrance surrounded by large stones and layered vegetation.
Community members previously said they wanted the park to feel “green”, peaceful and welcoming, so this final layout brings together all these elements in one compact urban retreat.
We still have a bit more time before the park comes to life: construction is scheduled to begin in summer 2027, with Queen West’s new green retreat expected to open in summer 2028.
