Toronto’s Newest Family Attraction: Biidaasige Park

I had heard of Toronto’s Biidaasige Park near Lake Ontario but knew nothing about it. The first time I looked for it, I drove right by it and ended up at the Cherry Beach Park.

The next time, I made the left turn off Cherry Street onto Commissioners Street, and there it was, Biidaasige Park.

What initially drew my photographic eye to the park were the beautifully designed bridges visible from Lakeshore Blvd. as I drove by. The curving lines and the bright yellow, red, and orange accents would be ideal photography subjects.

I’ve been to the park three times now. Here are some of the highlights.

Learn About the Names of the Park

Before visiting the park, it’s helpful to know the names and how to pronounce them.

To honour our ancestors, indigenous names have been used throughout the park. Biidaasige is pronounced “bee-daw-sih-geh”. It means “sunlight shining toward us” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin. What a nice thought, sunlight on our faces.

The former Villier’s Island has now been named Ookwemin Minising, which means “place of black cherry trees”. 

Does that mean there were black cherry trees down there two hundred years ago? Apparently so. Can we bring the trees back? Free fruit for park visitors?

Biidaasige Park Features Amazing Playgrounds

Currently, there are two main indigenous-themed playgrounds. The biggest one is supervised by a huge owl that you can climb inside of. It’s simply called the Snowy Owl Theatre. 

The playground in front of the owl includes ziplines, monkey bars, the Badlands Scramble, which incorporates water features, swings, and kid-sized climbing structures representing a bear, beaver, turtle, and other indigenous animals.

The other park area, located a bit further east, features the Reaching Raccoon sculpture, which, like the owl, is large enough for children to climb inside (adults too, if you watch your head). The raccoon park area includes extended picnic seating with BBQs nearby.

The park also includes two dog off-leash areas and canoe and kayak launches on the river. 

If you’re bringing young children to this park, be prepared to spend a few hours. There’s plenty for them to see, do, and experience. 

Trails for Hiking, Biking, and Bird-Watching

A series of trails run through the park with footbridges to get you across the river. For me, one of the joys of walking these trails is being near the newly naturalized river, surrounded by various marsh plants and trees.

The park currently spans approximately 50 acres, with an additional 20 acres under development. There are about six kilometers of new trails.

The Park Will Be the Focus of a New Community

At one time, this part of Toronto was all industrial, with a big working harbour. As industries shut down, it became a drive-by wasteland. 

But plans were afoot. Three big ideas intersected. 

First, developers viewed this land as an opportunity for the city to expand. Right downtown, near the lake, and near transportation and shopping. 

Secondly, the city and the province have long wanted to re-naturalize the mouth of the Don River. In the early 1900s, the mouth of the marshy, meandering Don River was hemmed in by the newly built Keating Channel to prevent river silt from blocking the harbour. That ultimately led to flooding problems when major storms swept through. It was time to fix that.

And that ties into the third challenge of overall flood protection. As our climate changes, rising water levels on the Great Lakes have caused havoc. The city had to include flood protection measures in any type of development. 

So, although most people will only experience the park and the new mouth of the Don River for now, in the next decade, this will become a thriving community built around the park. Current projections indicate that approximately 15,000 people will live here.

About the Bridges of Biidaasige Park

These beautiful bridges were designed by Grimshaw Architects in collaboration with the engineering firm schlaich bergermann partner. They were manufactured by Cherubini Metal Works in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. 

The bridges bring me real joy when I see them and walk or drive across them. They become a key part of the identity of Biidaasige Park. The graceful arches, the beautiful, bright colours that accent the white exteriors – they really are bridges as exuberant architecture. 

Directions to Biidaasige Park

The park is on Commissioners Street, off of Cherry Street. You can access Cherry Street from Lakeshore Blvd or further north from King Street, Eastern Avenue, or Front Street.

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