At the end of last summer, Toronto’s highly anticipated manmade beach, Leslie Lookout Park, officially opened on September 14, 2024.
While most of us didn’t have much time to enjoy summer days on the white sand before the weather got too cool, this summer is another story, as we have the full season ahead of us!
Located along the Martin Goodman Trail near the entrance to Tommy Thompson Park, the new 1.9-acre park found at 12 Leslie Street is the first major public space to open in the reimagined Port Lands, connecting visitors to Toronto’s Ship Channel with sweeping views of the waterfront and downtown skyline.
Designed for all-season use, Leslie Lookout Park blends natural elements with urban design, featuring an artificial sandy beach dotted with Muskoka chairs, picnic tables, a lookout tower, and Miyawaki-inspired mini-forest comprised of nearly 5,000 native plant species.
The lookout tower stands 13.5 metres tall, offering panoramic, west-facing views of the city’s skyline as well as overlooking the Port Lands.
For cyclists passing by, the park has ample facilities, including 50 bike parking spots, nearby Bike Share docking stations, and even a free bike repair station.
One of the most innovative aspects of Leslie Lookout Park is its use of porous asphalt, the first of its kind in a Toronto park. This eco-conscious surface filters runoff water directly into the ground, reducing pressure on the city’s stormwater system and enhancing climate resilience.
The involvement of Indigenous communities in shaping the park’s design is also honoured in a number of ways; during construction in March of 2023, a stunning mural depicting the Great Anishinaabe Migration, created by Indigenous artist and architectural designer Dani Kastelein-Longlade, was installed surrounding the site.
In addition, the lookout tower includes Indigenous placemaking elements marked with openings that align with the sky and the four cardinal directions.
Leslie Lookout Park marks the start of a broader transformation of the Port Lands into a mixed-use district where people can live, work, and play, while staying connected to nature and the waterfront. This summer, keep an eye out for pop-up events, concerts, and public art coming to the new destination!