Here's what new Toronto park at site of former abandoned KFC will look like

The site of a long-vacant and since-demolished KFC-Taco Bell building at one of Toronto's busiest intersections is one step closer to becoming a park.

The City of Toronto has revealed the preferred design for a new 820-square-metre park coming to 464-470 Queen St. W., at the corner of Queen Street West and Augusta Avenue. The future park is set to replace the former fast-food chain site, which sat abandoned for years before plans emerged to transform it into a public green space.

According to the City, the project has now completed phase three of its community engagement, where the preferred design for the space was shared with the broader community as well as an Indigenous Sharing Circle.

The preferred design reportedly combines the strongest elements from the three concepts shown during the second phase of public consultation, bringing together elements like shape, gathering,  storytelling, biodiversity, and observation.

The park is set to feature benches and a variety of seating areas, a feature tree surrounded by a circular gathering space, ornamental shrubs, large stones, an art panel, and Q-shaped paving.

"The preferred design is organized around a circular gathering space anchored by a feature tree and framed by a shaded grove, layered planting and a variety of seating," the City writes on its website.

"Distinctive paving extends towards the intersection, creating a welcoming arrival and expressing a Q shape that references the park's location and a turtle that represents Turtle Island, a recommendation from engagement with Indigenous communities."

A pathway through the planting area is set to connect 15 Denison Ave. to the central gathering area, and the park's Augusta Avenue edge will feature a double-sided bench that will allow people to face either the central gathering space or the surrounding neighbourhood.

The project is now moving toward the detailed design phase, where the design team will work through technical and construction details before the park is officially built. A construction team is set to be hired this fall, and demolition at 468 Queen St. W. is expected to follow suit in December.

Based on the current timeline, which is still subject to change, construction on the park will begin next summer and finish by summer 2028, when the green space is expected to open to the public.

A park has been planned for the site since at least 2021, when it was revealed that the abandoned KFC-Taco Bell at the corner of Queen and Augusta, along with the sneaker retailer, SVP Sports, would be demolished.

SVP Sports was ultimately repurposed as It's Ok* Studios, an independent, Black-led, interdisciplinary arts hub that hosted creative programming and community events until recently, when it too shut its doors to make way for the park.