Statement on Ryerson Parkette
The parkette at Ryerson St and Queen St W was originally built as a mini public space, an exercise in placemaking that would bring the community together and engage passersby with live performances, community events, and was intended to offer a safe place to have a break, eat some take out, fill water bottles, and quench your dog's thirst too while watching vibrant Queen Street go by. Unfortunately the Covid 19 pandemic caused a host of concurrent socio-economic issues and the parkette's original intended use went unfulfilled. Public health restrictions during the pandemic caused the primary challenges to animating the space for events and public gatherings. As a result of unintended use of the Parkette, The BIA went through extensive efforts to clean and maintain the site from harmful materials that could endanger the public realm. Consultations with various City departments and the Toronto Police Services were held to determine the next best steps for the parkette.
With the help of a landscape architect firm and various City departments, a redesign and reimagining of the space was curated by the BIA to bring a new vibrancy to the area late summer/early fall 2022, with safety and lighting in mind. Dismantling of the seating of the parkette was slated to begin mid July 2022 with a third party construction vendor. Unfortunately a fire at the parkette on the night of July 9th did create an unsafe environment. There were individuals who started roguely removing some of the seating and staging ahead of schedule without consent. Neither the City BIA Office nor the Queen Street West BIA had prior knowledge, consultation or gave permission for any demolition that took place. The Queen Street West BIA has been following City procurement guidelines at every step of the redesign and with the help of the City and appropriate departments were able to safely and rapidly secure the area with fencing ahead of schedule. Public signage will be posted shortly about the upcoming redesign plans and construction schedules.
It is in our every desire to bring these public spaces back to their intended use of serving Torontonians and tourists alike.
We will not be taking media requests at this time and will be updating this website as new information becomes available.
With the help of a landscape architect firm and various City departments, a redesign and reimagining of the space was curated by the BIA to bring a new vibrancy to the area late summer/early fall 2022, with safety and lighting in mind. Dismantling of the seating of the parkette was slated to begin mid July 2022 with a third party construction vendor. Unfortunately a fire at the parkette on the night of July 9th did create an unsafe environment. There were individuals who started roguely removing some of the seating and staging ahead of schedule without consent. Neither the City BIA Office nor the Queen Street West BIA had prior knowledge, consultation or gave permission for any demolition that took place. The Queen Street West BIA has been following City procurement guidelines at every step of the redesign and with the help of the City and appropriate departments were able to safely and rapidly secure the area with fencing ahead of schedule. Public signage will be posted shortly about the upcoming redesign plans and construction schedules.
It is in our every desire to bring these public spaces back to their intended use of serving Torontonians and tourists alike.
We will not be taking media requests at this time and will be updating this website as new information becomes available.
This is an image of a concept rendering of the soon-to-be constructed redesigned parkette with an emphasis on lighting for enhanced safety.
**please note that the design may change slightly due to site conditions and materiality availability.
**please note that the design may change slightly due to site conditions and materiality availability.
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Land Acknowledgement
The City of Toronto acknowledges that what we now call Toronto is on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The City also acknowledges that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.
African Ancestral Acknowledgement
The City of Toronto acknowledges all Treaty peoples – including those who came here as settlers – as migrants either in this generation or in generations past - and those of us who came here involuntarily, particularly those brought to these lands as a result of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery. We pay tribute to those ancestors of African origin and descent
The City of Toronto acknowledges that what we now call Toronto is on the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The City also acknowledges that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 signed with the Mississaugas of the Credit, and the Williams Treaties signed with multiple Mississaugas and Chippewa bands.
African Ancestral Acknowledgement
The City of Toronto acknowledges all Treaty peoples – including those who came here as settlers – as migrants either in this generation or in generations past - and those of us who came here involuntarily, particularly those brought to these lands as a result of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Slavery. We pay tribute to those ancestors of African origin and descent