From absurd to inappropriate: Torontonians weigh in on plans for Ontario Place

The Ford government has unveiled its vision while Toronto mayoral candidates have weighed in with their thoughts, and on Saturday local residents had their say when it comes to the future development of Ontario Place.

A few hundred people – many belonging to a group called “Ontario Place For All” – attended a public consultation at the Beanfield Centre on the Exhibition grounds to express concerns about access to the waterfront being cut off as a result of future redevelopment.

“I swim there regularly, I ride my bike there regularly, I just hang out there regularly, so that’s my concern – that it remains public use,” said one attendee.

“To have public access, to be able to on a Sunday afternoon stop and they might have taco trucks or I’ll go to a concert or a movie or something – that’s absolutely essential,” said another who attended the meeting.

A sore point with many who attended is the proposed spa being built with concerns raised that the footprint of the building will further restrict public access.

“I’m also concerned on a larger level with the complete inappropriateness of the spa that’s being proposed,” said one woman.

“We’re improving and upgrading and expanding those public spaces so the revitalized Ontario Place is going to have something for everyone right by the lake and it will be free to access,” said Simon Bredin, a spokesperson with Therme Canada.

In addition to the spa, Premier Ford strongly hinted this past week that the Ontario Science Centre could be relocated to Ontario Place – a notion that has received a mixed reaction.

RELATED: Community backlash to proposed Science Centre relocation

“I think it is absolutely absurd,” said one resident. “The most ecological building is the one that is already built – its built.”

“I think this place would be much better utilizing the water and making that interesting,” said another. “They already have some basic infrastructure, if they put some money into that, this could be even better than what it is now.”

“We need way more parkland in Toronto, just straight-up pleasant parkland as they have in many other big cities,” explained this woman. “Chicago’s waterfront for example has a beautiful park, it doesn’t require all kinds of commercial activities and I think Toronto really deserves the same.”

Mayoral candidates Josh Matlow and Ana Bailao both have serious reservations about the redevelopment plans for Ontario Place. Matlow says he would petition the federal government to see if they could buy the land and keep it public. Bailao says while she does support moving the Science Centre, the rest of the province’s plans for Ontario Place is out of touch with what Torontonians need.

This was the first of two public consultations. The second one is being held on Tuesday at 7 p.m.