Category Archives: Public parks and squares

New skating rink open at Sherbourne Common; construction of park’s north segment nearly done

Sherbourne Common

A solitary figure skater on the new rink at Sherbourne Common


Ice Time: Sherbourne Common was an eerily quiet and almost lonely place last when I dropped by last Thursday afternoon to check out the brand-new outdoor skating rink which had just opened to the public at the beginning of the week.  Besides me, there was only one other person in the entire place who wasn’t a City of Toronto parks and recreation department employee — and she had the entire rink all to herself (which, judging by her beaming face, she was quite enjoying).

It was around noon, and I had been certain I would arrive to find the rink packed with workers from the nearby Corus Quay office building getting in a quick skate during their lunch break. But the two of us were outnumbered by no fewer than seven civic employees who were busy shovelling snow and digging up the ground behind the shiny silver washroom and snack bar pavilion next to the ice oval.

It was a bitterly cold day, to be sure, but it was brilliantly sunny — an otherwise perfect day for outdoor enthusiasts to get some fresh air and savour the park’s panoramic views of the city skyline and the frosty Toronto Islands. And to take a peek at the early stages of development of downtown Toronto’s newest neighbourhood, East Bayfront, before the whole area gets built up with offices, condos and colleges.

Downtown Toronto’s newest public space, Sherbourne Common sits at the foot of Lower Sherbourne Street, between the Gardiner Expressway/Lake Shore Blvd. East and Lake Ontario. The Common is divided into two distinct park areas by Queen’s Quay, the broad boulevard that turns onto Parliament Street at its east end. Even at the height of summer when trees, plants and flowers are in full bloom, Queen’s Quay is one of the ugliest, bleakest streets in the city, if not the entire country. Thankfully, Sherbourne Common has come to its rescue, providing a pleasant stretch of green space to break up the dreary industrial gloom and greyness to the east.

The south section of the park — where the rink and pavilion are situated — officially opened last fall. The north section is still under construction, but work on playgrounds, water sculptures and a water channel is nearly finished. (The city anticipates the north Common will open as early as March or April.)

Even during the throes of a winter deepfreeze, when there’s nothing green in sight, Sherbourne Common and nearby Canada’s Sugar Beach were a treat to visit. I found both parks incredibly peaceful, even though the new waterfront campus of George Brown College is under construction right next door and more than a thousand people work at the Corus Entertainment building next door to that. I’m sure it will be a totally different story come summertime, when I’m sure the place will be crowded with Torontonians discovering a new waterfront place to hang out. And once the new George Brown College Health Sciences building opens for the fall 2012 semester, you can bet the days will be rare that there’s nobody to be seen at the parks and beach.

In the meantime, here are some photos of the near-empty parks and beach under a fluffy blanket of fresh snow. (For more information about Sherbourne Common, click on this link to a recent article by Toronto Star urban issues and architecture columnist Christopher Hume.)

 

Sherbourne Common

North Sherbourne Common viewed from Lower Sherbourne St. on February 3


Sherbourne Common

One of the water sculptures under construction at North Sherbourne Common


Sherbourne Common

North Sherbourne Common Park viewed from Queen’s Quay on February 3 2011


Sherbourne Common

Another view of the new skating rink in the south park


Sherbourne Common

Terrific city skyline views from the skating rink


Sherbourne Common

The washroom, changeroom and cafe pavilion next to the skating rink


Sherbourne Common

Another view of the rinkside pavilion


Sherbourne Common

Another view of the rinkside pavilion


Sherbourne Common

Shiny silver cladding on the pavilion


Sherbourne Common

Cafe space in the rinkside pavilion


Sherbourne Common

Cafe space in the new pavilion


Sherbourne Common

South side of the pavilion at Sherbourne Common


Sherbourne Common

Crews doing maintenance work next to the pavilion


Sherbourne Common

The lakeside promenade at Sherbourne Common, looking west


Sherbourne Common

The lakeside promenade, looking east from the Corus Quay building


Sugar Beach

Snowbound umbrellas and Muskoka chairs at Sugar Beach


Sugar Beach

Icicles dangle from one of the pink umbrellas at Sugar Beach


Sugar Beach

Corus Entertainment headquarters behind Sugar Beach


Sugar Beach

Bright pink umbrellas and white Muskoka chairs on Sugar Beach


Sugar Beach

Umbrellas cast a pinkish hue on the snow


Sugar Beach

Bootprints in the snow at Sugar Beach


Sick of snow and cold? Weary of winter weather? Just imagine warm sun and sand at Sugar Beach

Beachgoers enjoy warm sand and hot sun at Sugar Beach last August


Can’t get to the Caribbean? Stuck in the snow and cold and hoping you don’t catch the flu nasty that’s knocking people off their feet in Toronto? Unfortunately, it’s only the middle of January, and we’ve still got a lot more wicked winter weather ahead of us. But if you can’t escape to the south to soak up some hot sun on a beach holiday this season, you can always do the next best thing: Pretend you’re there.

To help you imagine that you’re enjoying warm sun and sand beside a wide expanse of appealing blue water, here’s some photos of the new beach and lakeside promenade that opened next to the Corus Entertainment building at the foot of Jarvis Street last summer.

Admittedly, Sugar Beach isn’t lush and exotic like Hawaii or St. Lucia, but it definitely looks a helluva lot more enticing than the snow and ice I see on the city streets right now.

Enjoy your beach break daydream and remember: only four more months to go before you can kick back and relax for real on Sugar Beach!

 

New mayor’s budget cuts could affect elements of Nathan Phillips Square revitalization project

November 2010: New skate pavilion and concession stand takes shape

 

No cash for tourist kiosk or restaurant? The two-year, $42.7 million revitalization of Nathan Phillips Square at City Hall is chugging along, but two of the project’s most appealing features might not get built because of budget cutbacks announced yesterday by Mayor Rob Ford.

According to an article in today’s Globe and Mail, the mayor’s budget cuts mean  “a planned tourist booth for the corner of Bay and Queen Streets likely won’t be built. Neither will a restaurant for the square, unless the city can find a partner to share construction costs.”

The plan to revitalize the 40-year-old square, which for years has looked worn, tired, dowdy and downright tacky in many places, has been controversial since it was originally proposed to and debated by City Council. Ford had been vocal about his opposition to the project and its cost while he was a city councillor, as well as throughout the mayoral election campaign last year. The good news is that his proposed 2011 budget doesn’t take money away from the program, so most of the revitalization work should continue as planned. However, there won’t be any cash to cover cost overruns.

The most visible revitalization progress to date has been the ongoing construction of a new skate pavilion and concession stand, replacing the hideous concrete structure that previously stood next to the square’s summer water fountain / winter ice skating rink. Also, the Peace Garden has been completely removed  (it will be relocated to the western side of the square).

A two-level restaurant proposed for the southwest corner of the square would have been a highlight of the refurbishment program, as would a tourist information kiosk planned for the southeast entrance to Nathan Phillips Square. Undoubtedly, both would have drawn more tourists and residents to the square; however, it’s been obvious for some time that our new  mayor isn’t the least bit interested in making Nathan Phillips Square a more welcoming, enjoyable place for either tourists or taxpayers to visit.

Below are some pics I shot in November of building progress on the new skate pavilion and demolition of the Peace Garden, as well as artistic renderings of the tourist booth, restaurant and skate pavilion. More renderings, along with full project details, can be viewed on the city’s Nathan Phillips Square Revitalization website.

 

Construction progress of new skate pavilion and concession stand

 

Construction progress of new skate pavilion and concession stand

 

Peace Garden demolition and removal

 

Rendering of new skate pavilion and concession stand

 

Rendering of restaurant proposed for square’s southwest corner

 

Rendering of proposed tourist information kiosk

 

Rendering shows location proposed for tourist info kiosk