This jumbo parking lot in Liberty Village will soon be a park
Architects and design teams from around the world have until November 28 to submit their ideas
An international design competition is currently underway for a new park in the heart of Liberty Village. Located at 34 Hanna Avenue, the would-be green space is currently a parking lot and temporary pop-up installation, with a mural by artist Elise Goodhoofd. The city-run competition invites international landscape architects and designers to come up with a breathtaking idea for the 4,900-square-metre plot.
Teams have until November 28 to submit their qualifications. The city will shortlist five applicants based on experience and design approach, then invite those finalists to submit concepts for public presentation. A design jury will ultimately select the winner.
Related: The Ford government ordered the city to double housing density in Liberty Village
The city determined its priorities for the park by consulting local groups, including the Liberty Village BIA. “The winning design should be welcoming and accessible to everyone, with flexible spaces that can host [any] community event,” says Abhi Kathuria, executive director of the neighbourhood advocacy group. “Sustainability is also key. We’d love to see green infrastructure and native plantings.”
Liberty Village’s access to green space has always been subpar. Given that mass housing density is coming along with the Ontario Line, the neighbourhood is screaming for more parks—for recreation and wellness as well as pet exercise and relief. Kathuria notes that residents have been relying mainly on the strips of grass beside Lamport Stadium and Liberty Village Park, which both look worse for wear. Green space also brings economic upsides: studies show that proximity to parks can boost property values by as much as 20 per cent.
Related: TMU will replace the Imperial Pub with more than 1,300 student units
Construction on the new park is expected to begin in 2027, with an opening planned for late 2028.
Ali Amad is a Palestinian-Canadian journalist based in Toronto. His work has appeared in publications including Toronto Life, Maclean’s, Vice, Reader’s Digest and the Walrus, often exploring themes of identity, social justice and the immigrant experience.
