A new lush urban oasis in the shape of a heart has opened in the heart of downtown Toronto.
Love Park, previously known as York St. Park, aims to create a playful and immersive experience that is secluded from busy downtown life.
Designed by CCxA in collaboration with gh3* who designed the pavillion, Love Park encourages visitors to enjoy the stillness and beauty of nature.
This two-acre park, located at the southern foot of York St.and Queens Quay, responds to the need for flexible public space in the southern Financial District and Harbourfront neighbourhood.
The pavilion contains wireframe arches which converge to three infinite corners along the curved filigree throughout the 5m high structure. Designed with an integrated soil foundation, the structure will become a vine trellis for shade and comfort.
The park site was removed and reclaimed for public use in 2016-2017 and is the antidote to its former use as the York-Bay-Yonge eastbound off-ramp of the Gardiner Expressway.
This new park is a departure from the hard surfaces which dominate downtown Toronto and features healthy existing mature trees with dozens of new trees set to be planted.
Around the entire perimeter and internal pathways of the park site, trees outline the sidewalks and mark the transition into a calm urban refuge.
It also features rolling elevated grassy mounds that provide as an additional buffer from the adjacent roadways while also offering space to relax and enjoy the park at different vantage points.
The new park celebrated its grand opening on June 23, 2023.
Collaboration:gh3* (Architecture), DEW Inc., Arup (structural, mechanical, electrical, geotechnical, civil, stormwater management, sustainability), Ombrages / Éclairage public, Lesley Johnstone (Public Art Curator)