Item - 2026.IE30.4

The Infrastructure and Environment Committee recommends that:

1. City Council adopt the Western Beaches Public Realm Plan - Attachment 1 to the report (May 27, 2026) from the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Transportation Services to inform future improvements to the study area over the next 20 years.

2. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Transportation Services in consultation with Toronto Water, other City Divisions, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority and intergovernmental partners as required, to advance the implementation of priorities identified in Attachment 2 [Near-Term Priorities] to the report (May 27, 2026) from the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Transportation Services as part of future Capital and Operating budget processes through studies, cost estimates, and detailed design as needed, considering the capital planning and prioritization process for future infrastructure planning and investment.

3.City Council direct the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, the Director, Indigenous Affairs Office, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Transportation Services, working in partnership with Treaty partners and Indigenous communities, and in alignment with the Reconciliation Action Plan, to build on existing programs and trails to explore additional opportunities to celebrate Indigenous culture through Indigenous place-keeping and placemaking as part of plan implementation outlined in Attachment 1 to the report (May 27, 2026) from the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Transportation Services.

4. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks and Recreation to continue to seek funding from other orders of government to advance the implementation of the improvements outlined in the Western Beaches Public Realm Plan, as described in Attachments 1 and 2 (the Plan and the Near-Term Priorities] to the report (May 27, 2026) from the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Transportation Services.

5. City Council request Toronto Parking Authority in collaboration with the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, to complete a surface parking optimization study, assessing options for reconfiguring and greening parking lots to unlock greater park potential while meeting public needs for park access and parking through all seasons.

6. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks and Recreation, the Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, and the General Manager, Transportation Services to report back to City Council by the third quarter of 2032 with a progress report on the implementation of the Western Beaches Public Realm Plan and recommendations 1-5 above.

The Western Waterfront Master Plan was approved by City Council in 2009 and was developed to provide a vision for Toronto's Western Beaches between the Humber River and Ontario Place, and to guide future decisions. In 2022, a report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee identified additional issues and priorities that emerged and recommended updating the Western Waterfront Master Plan. Since that time, City staff have been working towards providing a Western Beaches Public Realm Plan (the Plan) that updates the 2009 Western Waterfront Master Plan and continues to advance improvements related to breakwaters, shoreline erosion, water quality and visitor experience.

The Plan and its constituent recommendations are the result of both broad and deep community and Indigenous engagement as well as technical expertise and input from an interdivisional Technical Advisory Committee. City staff gathered feedback via a Public Life Study, multiple on-site pop-ups, focused stakeholder interviews, workshops with an assembled Community Advisory Committee, multiple digital surveys, a virtual public meeting, and several Indigenous talking circles. The result is a guide for investment in the Western Beaches identifying near-term priorities, medium-term opportunities, and long-term ideas to address a range of challenges, mitigate risks, and advance strategic objectives. Implementation of the Plan is anticipated to proceed incrementally as funding is identified, technical and detailed design processes are undertaken, and conversations with the public, stakeholders, urban Indigenous communities, and Treaty partners are advanced. The actions identified by the Plan are intended to mitigate the impacts of climate change on the shoreline, enhance the Western Beaches' visitor experience, better leverage the study area's natural and cultural heritage assets, and mitigate chronic challenges including trail conflicts, accessibility, and visitor comfort all while conserving and protecting this beloved waterfront park network so that it can be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike for generations to come.