Biidaasige Park | Toronto's newest park opens

Hundreds of visitors recently visited Ookwemin Minising to celebrate the opening of Toronto’s newest park, Biidaasige Park. This event marked the start of a weekend full of exploration and festivities, welcoming people of all ages to enjoy the freshly revitalised Don River and Biidaasige Park.

From left to right: Amarjot Sandhu, Parliamentary Assistant to the Ontario Minister of Infrastructure; Maggie Chi, Member of Parliament for Don Valley North; George Zegarac, President and CEO of Waterfront Toronto; Laura Solano, Partner at MVVA; Kevin Sullivan, Chair of Waterfront Toronto’s Board of Directors; Ogiima Kwe Chief Claire Sault, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation; Toronto Deputy Mayor Ausma Malik; Jennifer McKelvie, Parliamentary Secretary to the Federal Minister of Housing and Infrastructure; The Honourable Julie Dabrusin, Federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change and Member of Parliament for Toronto-Danforth; Leslie Church, Member of Parliament for Toronto-St.Paul’s; Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow; Rob Oliphant, Member of Parliament for Don Valley West; Councillor Paula Fletcher (Toronto-Danforth); Councillor Dianne Saxe (University-Rosedale); Julie Dzerowicz, Member of Parliament for Davenport.

Ookwemin Minising (island) in the renaturalised Don River and Biidaasige Park enhance the array of waterfront destinations made possible by tri-governmental investment in Toronto’s waterfront renewal. They offer immersive and adventurous spots to explore, complementing the already iconic red, yellow, and orange bridges that make the new island a must-see destination.

Under construction: the Cherry Street South bridge, which features a separated multi-use trail.

Biidaasige Park (pronounced “bee-daw-sih-geh” and meaning “sunlight shining toward us” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin) is a sweeping greenspace that lines the new mouth of the Don River. This is the largest park to open in Toronto in a generation and the first public space to open on Ookwemin Minising. Biidaasige Park was built as part of an innovative approach to flood protection. The Port Lands Flood Protection project protects 174 hectares of land in the Port Lands and eastern waterfront from flooding.

Snowy Owl Theatre | Image: Courtesy of City of Toronto

Biidaasige Park is opening in two phases. Approximately 50 acres/20 hectares of parkland opened recently, with an additional 10 acres/4 hectares set to open in 2026, along with the first-in-Canada Lassonde Art Trail.

“Today is a historic day for Torontonians with the opening of Biidaasige Park – the largest park in a generation and a beautiful space along the city’s Eastern Waterfront. It is part of the revitalization of Toronto’s waterfront at Ookwemin Minising creating a city within a city with 14,000 new homes. Thanks to our partnership with the federal and provincial governments and Indigenous partners, we have advanced $2.4 billion to support this new community and advance Indigenous placekeeping in Toronto. Today’s opening of a new park and river are a significant first milestone.”
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow

Visitors to Biidaasige Park will discover an array of features designed for all ages and interests. Highlights of the 2025 opening include picnic areas, a vibrant playground featuring larger-than-life animal sculptures representing Anishinaabe, Ongwehonwe, and Huron dodems, Toronto’s first ziplines, and a recreation waterplay feature, the Badlands Scramble.

Play area at Raccoon Picnic Terrace | Image: Courtesy of City of Toronto

Dodem Animal Sculptures that represent a clan or family line in the Anishinaabe, Ongwehonwe and Huron cultures. | Image: Courtesy of City of Toronto

Badlands Scramble | Image: Courtesy of City of Toronto

Raccoon Picnic Terrace Picnic Tables | Image: Courtesy of City of Toronto

Biidaasige Park has over 5,000+ trees, 77,000+ shrubs and two-million herbaceous plants along the recreational trails and cycling paths, including step-downs to the river for fishing and birdwatching, slips for non-motorized boats, and the Don Greenway wetland for birdwatching. Two dog off-leash areas and a pebble landing area for watercraft further enhance the visitor experience.

One of the recreational trails next to one of the wetlands on the east side of the island.

The river in 2024. In total, 5000 trees, 77,000 shrubs, and 2 million herbaceous plants are being planted in the new park.

Indigenous placekeeping is the integration of Indigenous values and teachings into the design of public places. Indigenous communities – including the Petun, the Wendat, the Haudenosaunee and the Anishnabeg – had been fishing, hunting, growing food, gathering medicines, celebrating, healing and coming together in the area now known as Biidaasige Park, the Don River and Lake Ontario, long before European nations arrived.

Placekeeping throughout the Park:

Indigenous Plantings, like Sacred Tobacco, White Sagebrush, Staghorn Sumac and more
Interpretive Signage revealing the history of the area, designed by NVision Insight Group (late 2025)
Dodem Animal Sculptures designed by APE Richter/Christian Huba in consultation with Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and MinoKamik Collective
Sturgeon Stones, embedded in pathways as teaching signifiers, by artist Solomon King
A Fire Holder as part of a space for Indigenous ceremony (2026)
Shade Structure, designed by Tawaw Architecture Collective (late 2025)
Public Art, installed throughout the park, in collaboration with the Lassonde Art Trail (opens in new window) (2026)
Marker Trees that guide visitors throughout the park, in collaboration with Nikibii Dawadinna Giigwag, University of Toronto Daniels Forestry, Two Row Architect, Trophic Design

Image Credits: Waterfront Toronto / Vid Ingelevics / Ryan Walker (unless otherwise captioned)

Landscape Architect: MVVA (Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates)