PESSOA PARK

This new City of Toronto Park is part of the master-planned Queen West Block Development. The design and program of the park was guided by a comprehensive community consultation process, as well as the physical characteristics and industrial history of the site.

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At the north end of the site at Peel Street, is an elevated informal paved square to gather under the shade of a grove of trees, sit on wood benches flanked by woodland plantings or overlook the park below. A wide stair leads down to the ‘north plaza’ that features a playful water feature framed by decorative walls. The plaza opens to a central south-sloping lawn bordered by woodland plantings.  A paved tree-lined allee is a versatile transitional space between commercial uses of the adjacent private building frontages and the public park, where a café or public service use would be of mutual benefit.
 
The south end of the site connects to the future extension of the West Toronto Railpath bike corridor that will run alongside the rail bridge. An overlook and rest stop is provided at this high elevation, offering an outstanding view of the park and surrounding neighbourhood. Stepped terraces with naturalized planting contrast with the sleek metal-clad stairs that lead down to the central east-west pedestrian boulevard and mid-block connection.