Item - 2026.IE30.8

The General Manager, Parks and Recreation and the Executive Director, Environment, Climate, and Forestry recommend that:

1. City Council approve the Concept Plan included in Appendix 2 as the basis for detailed design, procurement and delivery of the Queen's Park North Revitalization Project.

2. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks and Recreation and Executive Director, Environment, Climate, and Forestry to establish a Queen's Park North Detailed Design Working Group composed of no more than ten members representing the City of Toronto, University of Toronto, the donor, residents, neighbouring institutions and other experts appointed by the City, consult with the Working Group with respect to finalizing the design details of the Concept Plan included in Appendix 2 as well as the Queen’s Park North Advisory Body Draft Terms of Reference, and provide community updates at key milestones.

3. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks and Recreation and Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, in consultation with the Senior Manager, Heritage Planning, to conserve the cultural heritage values of Queen's Park North through refinement of the Draft Statement of Significance in Appendix 1 into a Description of Cultural Heritage Values which will guide decision-making through detailed design, construction, and ongoing park management, programming and operations.

4. City Council endorse the Queen’s Park North Advisory Body Draft Terms of Reference in Appendix 6 and direct the General Manager, Parks and Recreation to incorporate the Draft Terms of Reference in the negotiation and execution of the tri-party agreement with Weston Foundation and the University of Toronto to govern the maintenance, operations and funding of the revitalized Queen’s Park North (the "Tri-Party Agreement").

5. City Council amend the 2026-2035 Capital Budget and Plan for Parks and Recreation to create a dedicated project account for the Queen's Park North Revitalization Project with project cost of up to $50.0 million (inclusive of relevant costs incurred by the Donor to date) and projected cash flow commitments of $8.7 million in 2026, $16.5 million in 2027, $21.0 million in 2028 and $3.8 million in 2029, fully funded through donations from the Weston Foundation, subject to the execution of, and in accordance with, the donation agreement and any other agreements required to implement the project.

6. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks and Recreation and the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry, to report to Infrastructure and Environment Committee with a project update report in the first quarter of 2027, including relevant updates on detailed design, construction and the development and implementation of the governance model.

7. City Council direct the General Manager, Parks and Recreation to report to Infrastructure and Environment Committee within 18 months of the new tri-party maintenance, operations, and funding model being put in place, with regular biennial reports to City Council thereafter.

Queen’s Park North is one of the largest and most significant green spaces in Toronto’s downtown core. As Canada's oldest municipal park, it is defined by its extensive tree canopy, cultural heritage landscape including generous pathways and open spaces, and its long-standing role as a place of gathering, expression, contemplation, and commemoration. At its core, the park is a vibrant urban forest and green oasis and it is important that the character and the sense of place are maintained and enhanced as the city evolves around the park.

This report provides an update on the planned revitalization of Queen's Park North. In response to March City Council direction (EX29.3), City staff have made several changes to the project's Concept Plan. Key areas of change include:

- Development of an Urban Forest Management Plan that will guide all aspects of park revitalization;

- Increased focus on maintaining and emphasizing the heritage of the park through a Draft Statement of Significance;

- Assessment of a feasibility study and business case to inform the next steps of the food and beverage offering;

- Proposal to introduce a time-limited working group to inform detailed design as the project proceeds to the next phases.  

These proposed changes are outlined in this report and reflected in the revised Concept Plan.

Staff are seeking Council approval of the Concept Plan with parameters to guide the next phase of detailed design and execute project agreements that were authorized by City Council through EX29.3, subject to consideration of this update on the Concept Plan.

The vision for Queen's Park North is a comprehensive revitalization strategy combining:

- Proactive tree care and urban forest management,

- Enhanced maintenance and proactive operations,

- Education, interpretation and appropriately scaled programming,

- Improvements to visitor experience for all ages,

- High-quality, inclusive design, and

- A collaborative stewardship model.

The analysis, information, and recommendations consolidated through the latest phase of work have been used to meaningfully revise the Concept Plan to balance passive and active uses of the park while furthering the project vision. Key Concept Plan changes since draft directions were presented publicly in March include:

- Urban Forest Protection and Enhancement: An Urban Forest Management Plan is being advanced by an independent urban forest consultant to guide all aspects of the project, from concept design through construction and long-term stewardship. Phase 1 of the plan is complete and has provided clear directions that have been incorporated into the updated Concept Plan to protect existing trees, including minimizing impacts to root systems. Subsequent phases will inform any further changes during detailed design and establish a long-term strategy to expand and strengthen the urban forest in Queen's Park North.

- Learning Forest: The Learning Forest proposal for the western quadrant of the park, home to several distinctive and rare trees, has been revised in response to the Urban Forest Management Plan, public input and design development. The revised proposal introduces a shorter, lower elevated walkway than previously proposed that is designed to protect root zones from compaction and to use existing hardscape to minimize new impacts to the trees, in particular distinctive trees. The area will include a low enclosure to support the planting of native understory plants, reflecting Indigenous principles of companion plantings.

- Central Building: The proposed building at the centre of the park has been reduced in size and footprint and carefully sited to minimize impacts on existing trees and root zones. The revised approach separates the public washrooms from the café building to further reduce environmental impacts and allow for more flexible operations. The building program is proposed to host a viable year-round café at a scale supported by initial staff and third-party reviews of the food and beverage business case and operating model and subject to further review and due diligence. The building will also provide a hub for the staff team dedicated to park operations. Its central location, with outdoor seating and public washrooms nearby, will provide a gathering space for the community, University users and park visitors.

- Commemorative Garden: The footprint of the commemorative garden has been reduced in size and its configuration reoriented to avoid key tree protection areas, responding to public feedback and the Urban Forestry Management Plan. These changes improve pedestrian circulation, reduce paved surfaces, preserve more open lawn space, and better integrate the garden within the existing park landscape.

-  Indigenous Design and Programming: A key project principle is to embed Indigenous cultural values, history and storytelling in both the physical landscape of the revitalized park as well as its stewardship approach. The project team is advancing dedicated scopes of work with First Nations to develop culturally specific design, interpretation, education, and programming elements, alongside broader engagement with Indigenous communities. The recommended Concept Plan foregrounds opportunities for Indigenous placekeeping and authorship, and identifies key locations for integration, with details to be further refined through collaboration during detailed design.

- Workshop: The Workshop, as a stand-alone structure, has been removed from the Concept Plan, reducing the number of proposed structures in response to feedback received. The plan will provide space and amenities to support community and educational activities with the Learning Forest, Commemorative Garden and other areas of the park.

- Public Art Framework: A public art framework is being developed, informed by public feedback and Council direction, to guide the integration of both permanent and temporary works throughout the park. This approach enables the thoughtful placement and curation of art that reflects the park’s cultural significance and enhances interpretive opportunities.

The revised Concept Plan reflects a balanced and responsive approach to the revitalization of Queen’s Park North. Through the integration of the Urban Forest Management Plan, technical analysis, and engagement feedback, staff have refined the design to further reduce impacts to trees, appropriately scale built elements, and strengthen the park’s ecological resilience. The updated Concept Plan emphasizes the protection and long-term health of the urban forest while introducing carefully sized amenities, emphasizing opportunities for education and interpretation, and enhancing spaces for gathering and everyday use.

This recommended Concept Plan builds on extensive engagement (July 2025 - May 2026) with thousands of park users and stakeholders over multiple phases. Feedback has been carefully considered throughout the process, with particular attention to concerns related to tree protection, the scale of proposed changes, and the role of programming within the park. The revised Concept Plan reflects a deliberate effort to respond to these perspectives, refine key elements, and identify a balanced approach that can serve the park’s diverse users and functions.

Pending Council's direction, staff will execute the donation agreement and other project agreements and advance the development of detailed designs for all park elements. Detailed design will be guided by further development of the Council-directed studies as well as ongoing engagement with project stakeholders, including a project working group to support decision-making on detailed design in advance of formally establishing the longer-term advisory structure. City staff will secure permits, procure construction services, and oversee the phased delivery of the plan to minimize disruptions to the park. Staff will report back to City Council regarding project progress in early 2027, in 2028 and on a biennial basis for the remainder of the term of the donation.

The recommendations in this report will result in an increase of up to $50.0 million (less relevant costs incurred by the Donor to date) to the 2026-2035 Parks and Recreation Capital Budget and Plan for the Queen's Park North Revitalization Project, with projected cash flows of $8.7 million in 2026, $16.5 million in 2027, $21.0 million in 2028 and $3.8 million in 2029. This funding will be reflected in a dedicated project account and will be fully funded through donations, subject to the execution of, and in accordance with, the donation agreement and any other agreements required to implement the project.

As the project is fully funded through donations, no additional debt financing is required from the City for the capital design and delivery of the project.

The City will continue to provide core municipal services within the park. Under the proposed model, the University of Toronto will assume responsibility for enhanced maintenance and operational elements associated with the revitalized park, subject to the execution of the required agreements. As a result, the City's operating costs are anticipated to remain generally consistent with current expenditure levels.

Any future changes to the scope of the project, operating model, or funding arrangements that may result in additional financial implications for the City will be subject to future Council consideration and approval.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed this report and agrees with the financial impact information as presented.

The General Manager, Parks and Recreation, and the Executive Director, Environment, Climate, and Forestry recommends that:

1. Infrastructure and Environment Committee receive this report for information.

This report will provide an update on the planned revitalization of Queen's Park North in response to Council direction (2026.EX29.3), which directed the General Manager, Parks and Recreation and the Executive Director, Environment, Climate and Forestry to report to the Infrastructure and Environment Committee with an updated Concept Plan, the proposed draft terms of reference for the Queen's Park North advisory body, and details on the business plan for the proposed food and beverage component.

Further information on financial impacts will be outlined in the forthcoming supplementary report.

The Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer has reviewed the report and agrees with the information as presented in the Financial Impact section.