Construction at new Leslie Slip Park in Toronto's Port Lands about to pick up

Park space is always at a premium in Toronto, but if all goes well, in less than a year, there will be a nice new spot in the east end of the city.

Leslie Slip Lookout Park will be set on 1.9 acres on the Martin Goodman Trail above Tommy Thompson Park on Leslie St., south of Commissioners St. and will boast a 360 degree view of the Port Lands.

It will also have a public beach distinguished by forested dunes and will feature the raised viewing platform overlooking the skyline and entire length of the Ship Channel, which should provide quite the view.

Leslie Slip Lookout Park’s winning design was by Montreal’s Claude Cormier + Associates, who are no strangers to creating interesting spaces. The firm also designed Sugar Beach and Berczy Park, among others.

Work on the multi-year project continues to progress and will pick up shortly, a spokesperson for CreateTO, the city’s real estate agency, told the Sun.

“Base park construction has been completed, including environmental remediation, dock wall repair, and demolition of the warehouse structure on site. The design is complete. And several community consultation and Indigenous engagement sessions have taken place,” CreateTO’s spokesperson said.

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A rendering of Leslie Slip Lookout Park which is expected to open by next summer. CreateTO

“We will be starting the next phase of construction in late August/early September so you’ll see much more happening on the site in the coming weeks … The next phase will include the landscaping, construction of the lookout structure, completion of the electrical and mechanical work, installation of the park furnishings and the plantings.”

As well, “A panorama depicting the migration story of the Anishinaabe people will be installed as a mural on the hoarding around the site prior to the next phase of construction beginning.”

Leslie Lookout Park is anticipated to open in late spring/early summer 2023.

When plans for the park were first announced, Toronto Mayor John Tory said: “The creation of Leslie Slip Lookout Park on Toronto’s eastern waterfront is something that residents and tourists from across the city and beyond will be able to enjoy for years to come.

“This new destination will offer year-round programs including pop-up events, concerts and public art, and will give people the opportunity to enjoy time outdoors while exploring an area of the city they might not have before.”

Toronto-Danforth Councillor Paula Fletcher also said at the time: “Revitalizing this underutilized land will bring this site back into public use, beautify the landscape and complement the natural heritage system of the Port Lands, creating a stronger connection between the city and the natural areas south of Unwin Avenue and Tommy Thompson Park.”