1. WaveDecks
The distinguished landscape architects West8 are redesigning the streetscape across the central waterfront. These playful pedestrian features – whose wood deck surfaces swell up like waves – have already improved the grim sidewalks near Harbourfront Centre.
2. Queen's Quay West revitalization
A comprehensive redesign of the 1.7-kilometre street, designed by West8 with DTAH, will add a wide pedestrian promenade, extend the Martin Goodman Trail for cyclists and create a handome streetscape with granite paving, high-quality furniture and mature trees.
3. Sugar Beach and Sherbourne Common
These beautifully designed urban parks (by Montreal's Claude Cormier and Vancouver's PFS Studio) are creating a sense of place for the East Bayfront neighbourhood, now under development, which will include office space and 6300 residential units.
4. Pan Am Games Athletes' Village
Planned and urban-designed by Waterfront Toronto, it is being built by the province to house 10,000 athletes for the Pan Am Games next year. It will then transform into affordable housing, a dorm for George Brown students, a YMCA and condos.
5. Corktown Common
An 18-acre park built on a huge berm that protects the downtown core from major floods of the Don River; the landscape, by Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates, provides a range of experiences including play space, lawns and a lush marshland fed by stormwater.