The Port Lands in Toronto is being developed to include a new waterfront park with zip lines, play areas, and even a snow owl shelter.
The Port Lands Flood Protection project will create new island near downtown Toronto, as well as create a new mouth for the Don River.
A $1.25 billion project
The $1.25 billion project includes residential and commercial buildings as well as two main park areas.
Colliers International is providing project management and advisory services to the project that will revitalise nature in the area and protect nearby neighbourhoods from flooding during extreme weather.
The parks and river valley are a primary focus of the project. BlogTO reports that Villiers Island will feature two parks – a North and South park. They are designed by the landscape architects Michael van Valkenburgh and Associates.
Three natural play areas
The South park will have a river and city view promontory as well as an event lawn.
The North park is going to have three natural play areas that will appeal to all ages. ‘Cableway Canyon’ will have two gated cableways (ground-mounted zip lines), a chain path, a to-fro swing and more.
In ‘Green Giant Forest’, visitors will be able to enjoy a play area inspired by nature. It will include tree-mounted forest swings, a snow owl shelter, pole climbers and more.
The ‘Badland Scramble’ is going to feature an interactive waterworks play area, a fitness lawn and a picnic terrace. There will also be a series of pathways that link all of these play areas to the rest of Villiers Island.
The project will revitalise more than 290 hectares of land between the creation of Villiers Island and the renovation of the mainland.
The expected occupancy date for the project is 2024.
In Singapore, the islands of Sentosa and Pulau Brani will be reinvented as an ‘island playground’.