New construction of a parking garage in Toronto, Ontario. Completed plans call for the construction of a five-story above grade, 3,500-space parking garage.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/toronto/article-ontario-place-toronto-redevelopment-spa-doug-ford/ The Ontario Place project has faced furious opposition from the start, with critics arguing there was not enough public space.Chris Young/The Canadian Press Share Save for later Sometimes Toronto doesn’t know a good thing when it sees it. Consider the plan to redevelop Ontario Place, the big island playground down by the lake. Furious opposition has followed the project from the start. Critics say the provincial government is handing a priceless public asset to a private company so it can build a luxury spa. That is a gross caricature of the plan, which includes not just the spa and accompanying waterpark but also a better concert venue, a new Ontario Science Centre, a revived marina and acres of trails, beaches and open space that everyone will be able to use for free. The final design plans recently came out and they look great. The new Ontario Place will still have many of the features that made it so exciting and unique when it first opened in 1971. The Cinesphere – an Imax cinema in a giant dome – remains, as does the chain of raised “pods” suspended dramatically on stilts above the water. The original amphitheatre, which has gone through different transformations over the years, will be expanded and converted into a year-round performance venue. The more recent Trillium Park, built around the edge of the easternmost of two islands that make up Ontario Place, will stay, too. It’s terrific, with a trail that follows the water’s edge and gives wonderful views of the city. Now, it will link up with a new network of pathways and meeting places on the west island around the waterpark and spa. Opinion: The Ontario Place spa: new drawings, still a disaster Critics said there was not enough public space there, so the spa developer, Therme of Austria, has honed its plans. They now include an expanded sandy beach, fire pits, picnic spots, a pier jutting out from the western end and two new pavilions for public gatherings and cultural events. Underwater reefs will be built to prevent erosion and provide fish habitat. A winding trail meant to mimic a river will lead visitors around and over the spa building to the water. Therme and its architects worked with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation to weave Indigenous elements into the design. One pavilion will include a turtle design. Another will have a roof that aligns with celestial constellations. The landscaping will feature a variety of trees and plants that reflect Ontario’s natural heritage. Whether or not people visit the Therme complex, they will be able to walk, cycle, swim, kayak (or, in winter, skate) on the property. The complex itself has been scaled down to answer critics who said it would loom over the waterfront like a leviathan. The architects now describe it as a kind of campus, with separate areas reserved for wellness treatments, relaxation and water play. Inside will be nine steam rooms, 14 saunas, more than 20 water slides and 10 pools, including one with a wave machine. Despite all these adjustments, the critics continue to push their cartoon picture of the project. City councillor Josh Matlow says the government of Progressive Conservative Premier Doug Ford is just trying to “put more lipstick on this massive, tax-dollar sucking, island-hogging pig.” Colourful. He adds that rather than putting real public space on the waterfront, the government is privatizing a big swath of Ontario Place. That is nonsense. The project is a partnership between public and private interests. Public-private collaboration has helped redevelop waterfronts from Belfast to Sydney. The giant Ferris wheel on the banks of the Thames is one of London’s biggest tourist attractions. Toronto’s long-neglected waterfront, now finally taking shape, badly needs a splashy crowd-pleaser like that. The new Ontario Place fits the bill. The cost is huge, yes. A highly critical report by the province’s auditor-general last December said it had ballooned to more than $2-billion. One reason is that the government decided to close the dilapidated old Science Centre and build a whole new one at Ontario Place. But that was a good call. It means the site will have three major attractions: the spa and waterpark, which are bound to be popular; the Science Centre, which should pull in lots of families and school groups; and the concert stage run by Live Nation. Watching shows by the lake has always been a treat. Visitors will be able to reach the place from a nearby subway station on the Ontario Line, which is now under construction. The one false note in the plan is the parking garage. Ontario promised to build one when it struck a deal with Therme. Putting it underground proved to be impractical, so the government is going to plunk it on the site of the current surface parking lot beside Lake Shore Boulevard. Mr. Ford insists it will be “spectacular.” Renderings show an attractive structure partly shielded from view by a landscaped berm. But a far better spot for it would still be across the street at Exhibition Place, an idea that the government had discussed with Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow. All in all, though, this is an excellent plan. Those who want Ontario Place to be a show-stopping people magnet again will get their wish, but so will those who want a place to simply hang out by the water’s edge. Toronto should recognize a good thing and embrace it. Report an editorial error Report a technical issue Editorial code of conduct ---------------- The Ontario Place Parking Solution will provide an open-air multi-level parking structure located on Lots P2/P2A on the northeast corner of the Ontario Place site. The executed NDA must be submitted by e-mail in PDF format (unlocked and unaltered), to Nancy Ly at Nancy.ly@infrastructureontario.ca Official bid documents must be obtained from www.merx.com Question Acceptance Deadline: 07/16/2025 at 5:00 PM ET