While parts of Toronto can feel like a concrete jungle sometimes, one thing the city is blessed with is a lot of green space, home to over 1,500 parks and ravines which span 8,000 hectares of land.
Now, residents can explore another new stunning waterfront park, as Toronto has officially unveiled Biidaasige Park in the city’s up-and-coming Port Lands over the past weekend.
Located on the newly formed man-made Ookwemin Minising (formerly Villiers Island), Biidaasige Park (pronounced bee-daw-sih-geh) is being hailed as the largest Toronto park to open in a generation.
The name translates to “sunlight shining towards us” in Anishinaabemowin, and the park is one of the most ambitious urban green spaces in Canada. Taking over 20 acres, it features a playground complete with zip lines, oversized wooden wildlife sculptures, and a waterplay area inspired by the Cheltenham Badlands. It also includes extensive trails, picnic spaces, dog parks, barbecues, and riverfront lookouts.
Marking a pivotal milestone in the $1.4 billion Port Lands Flood Protection project, the island of Ookwemin Minising was made possible by re-routing the Don River, part of a broader strategy to protect 290 hectares of vulnerable downtown land from flooding.
Once complete, the island will feature over 50 acres of parkland and green space, support up to 15,000 new residents, and create around 3,000 jobs.
To get to the park, you can access it from Cherry Street and Commissioners Street. Parts of the park are still under construction, but for now, Torontonians can explore the five-kilometre recreational loop, birdwatching trails, fishing step-downs, and non-motorized boat access. Kayakers can also paddle down the newly opened Don River mouth.
Accessibility was central to the park’s design, with inclusive features throughout for those using wheelchairs and mobility aids.
Portions of the park will continue to open this summer, with the remainder following in 2026. Once fully open, Biidaasige Park is expected to draw more than one million visitors annually.
