Toronto residents gain new access to waterfront through HTO Park

     TORONTO, June 8 /CNW/ - The City of Toronto's newest waterfront park is

now open. This morning Mayor David Miller, Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone (Ward 19

Trinity-Spadina), Councillor Adam Vaughan (Ward 20 Trinity-Spadina), General

Manager, Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Brenda Librecz, joined

residents and park design team leads Janet Rosenberg, Claude Cormier and

Siamak Hariri to officially open HTO Park - Toronto's urban park by the water.

     The opening of HTO Park, on Queens Quay, marks the beginning of a parks

renaissance in Toronto. Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation has undertaken

the Parks Renaissance Strategy to act on the goals outlined in its 15-year

strategic plan, "Our Common Grounds". The strategy is a reinvestment program

that will align the City's parks, trails and physical assets with the social,

economic and cultural needs of residents.

     "Toronto's continued prosperity hinges upon the renewal of our

waterfront," said Mayor David Miller. "For too long Toronto's waterfront was

neglected, simply ignored or developed with uses incompatible with a

people-friendly waterfront for Torontonians. This park is another step in our

reclamation of our waterfront."

     With its two-metre high grass knolls and trees, the park is similar to

any other in the city with rolling hills, but closer to the water's edge you

find a promenade, and tucked between it and the grass knolls is a beach

suitable for sunning yourself on the sunniest of days. The beach is also

decorated with beach umbrellas for full effect. Throughout the park are tall

mast lights that act as area moons - casting light on the knolls and

programmed to change seasonally.

     "The construction of HTO Park reaffirms the City's commitment to its

parks, open spaces and the waterfront," commented Brenda Librecz, General

Manager of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation. "Parks make a connection

with the people who use them daily for personal enjoyment and relaxing. They

enhance the quality of life of all Torontonians." HTO Park is just one of

Toronto's 1,470 named parks which, in addition to 7,390 hectares of green

space and more than three million trees, make Toronto a green city for

residents and visitors to enjoy.

     A team of architects led by Janet Rosenberg (Janet Rosenberg + Associates

Landscape Architects of Toronto), Claude Cormier (Claude Cormier architectes

paysagistes of Montreal) and Siamak Hariri (Hariri Pontarini Architects of

Toronto), collaborated with staff from Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation

to create HTO Park. The outstanding park design was selected following an

international design competition, undertaken by the City in 2003. Somerville

Construction provided excellent skill and workmanship in rounding out the

project team's achievement of a dynamic and beautiful waterfront park.

     Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest government, and home

to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. It is the economic engine

of Canada and one of the greenest and most creative cities in North America.

In the past three years Toronto has won more than 50 awards for quality and

innovation in delivering public services. Toronto's government is dedicated to

prosperity, opportunity and liveability for all its residents.