Over the last two years, The Bentway and the City of Toronto have collaborated on a vision for underutilized public spaces below and adjacent to the Gardiner Expressway, from Dufferin to the DVP.
Earlier this month, City Council formally endorsed the plan which means it will now be used as a guide for the development of a public realm under the highway.
“Council approval of The Under Gardiner PRP represents a collective acknowledgement of the importance and potential of spaces below the Gardiner Expressway. Together with the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario, we are excited to play a key role in ensuring the plan informs and supports future development of the expressway from end-to-end,” said Robert McKaye, senior manager of planning and design at The Bentway.
With City Council’s endorsement complete, the next step will include the formation of an interdivisional working group with representation from several City departments, The Bentway, and the Province of Ontario. The group will work together to develop an implementation strategy for the plan, including a prioritization framework and funding strategy.
Development of the Under Gardiner PRP was led by the Bentway Conservancy in partnership with the City of Toronto, along with an integrated team of urban designers, architects, climate engineers, and consultation experts including PUBLIC WORK, Two Row Architect, Frontier, Transsolar KlimaEngineering, and Third Party Public.
The Under Gardiner Public Realm Plan (PRP) was developed with input from various City divisions and The Bentway, as well as through extensive public consultation.
The Under Gardiner PRP is a joint effort between the City of Toronto and The Bentway Conservancy, and represents a collaboration of subject matter expertise, bringing together different perspectives on how the Under Gardiner spaces could better serve a range of civic needs.