Toronto is getting a breathtaking waterfront park this summer

The epic undertaking to renaturalize Toronto's Port Lands has already created a new serpentine mouth for the Don River, soon to be joined by stunning public spaces — including one standout park scheduled to welcome the public this summer.

Waterfront Toronto has released new aerial footage of the renaturalized Don River captured in March, showing off the new human-made waterway that officially started flowing last year.

The latest video update on construction in the Port Lands offers a hint at what is in store for the coming months, most notably the gradual opening of new parks and public spaces in the formerly industrial district.

One standout of the reimagined Port Lands will be a large public parkland to the north and south of the new river and around the whole western edge of the island, known as Biidaasige Park, (pronounced Bee-daw-sih-geh), the Anishinaabemowin translation of the phrase "sunlight shining toward us."

Opening in phases, the portion of parkland east of Cherry Street will be the first to welcome visitors this summer, with the parkland west of Cherry – including an elevated promontory with skyline views opening next year.

In the clip, Waterfront Toronto explains that "while all of the plants are still brown for the winter, once the weather warms up, it will transform into a lush green space."

One of the standouts of this new public space will be the restored 300-ton Atlas crane — a preserved heritage structure that will preserve the Port Lands' industrial roots — towering over the river mouth.

As part of the heritage restoration process, crews have been re-painting this steel behemoth, and have already finished with its north leg. 

Further to the east along the park's riverfront section, pathways are in place and a future picnic area is quickly coming together. In the footage, captured back in March, foundations for barbecues and picnic tables are visible near a large raccoon play structure.

Other areas taking shape include a future off-leash dog area using resilient canine turf, and a playground with an owl-shaped stage structure and other play features like an artificial landform inspired by the Cheltenham Badlands.

A linear meadow bordering the north side of the park is a reserved right-of-way for the planned Waterfront East LRT.

While portions of the park will indeed open to the public this summer, much of the new waterfront park will remain off limits until 2026.

Among the park's primary draws, the namesake promontory (prior to the park's renaming) will offer impressive views of the city skyline next year. Crews are now constructing the rock facade of this promontory, and by 2026, this space will be bustling with visitors enjoying the elevated platform's skyline vistas.

In addition to the promontory construction, workers have spent the last few months getting the park's landscaping together.

The western section of the park featuring the promontory will open alongside a new art trail carving through the Port Lands and the new Ookwemin Minising (formerly Villiers) Island.

Other public spaces in the Port Lands are further ahead on the horizon, like the park planned at the northwest corner of the island, which remains a roughed-in space for future consideration.

No opening dates have been announced by Waterfront Toronto as of May 2025.