Biidaasige Park Expands with New 10‑Acre Addition
Location and Immediate Benefits
On a crisp Friday morning, Toronto’s waterfront welcomed ten new acres of Biidaasige Park, extending the shoreline eastward from Cherry and Commissioners Streets.
This addition opens up a broader view of Lake Ontario and reconnects residents to a one‑kilometre stretch of the Don River, enhancing public access to the city’s eastern edge.
Project Funding and Scale
The expansion is part of the Port Lands Flood Protection (PLFP) initiative, a $1.4 billion effort financed by the federal government, the province and the city, with more than $465 million, $471 million and $471 million respectively.
City officials say the overall project will safeguard 174 hectares (430 acres) from extreme flooding while creating space for future mixed‑use communities that include wetlands, river valleys, housing, jobs and public amenities.
Future Neighborhood: Ookwemin Minising
A newly formed island, Ookwemin Minising, will sit at the heart of Biidaasige Park and is slated to become a vibrant, livable neighborhood.
According to the municipality, the island could eventually house roughly 21,000 people and generate employment for about 2,900 residents over the next quarter‑century.
Waterfront Toronto has already submitted a qualification application to find a construction partner for the first 700 homes on the island.
Broader Context: Comparing to Millennium Park
When the full Biidaasige Park is completed, it will more than double the size of Chicago’s Millennium Park, a 24.5‑hectare landmark that transformed a former rail yard into a world‑renowned destination.
Millennium Park opened in July 2004, took four years longer than planned to finish, and cost about $490 million, far exceeding the original $150 million budget.
Biidaasige Park. Photo supplied by
