​Toronto, Meet Your Newest Waterfront Escape

You are invited to Biidaasige Park, located on Toronto’s new island, Ookwemin Minising, where the Don River meets the lake.

Biidaasige Park is the first public space to open on Ookwemin Minising. Come get your first look at this immersive, imaginative space – including a transformed Don River – before it fully opens next summer.

Ookwemin Minising (formerly known as Villiers Island) is a new island born from one of the world’s most ambitious flood protection and river restoration projects. Tri-government partnership has transformed former industrial lands into a restored, naturalized landscape with an imaginative park filled with places to gather, lose yourself in nature or find adventure.

From July 19 to 20 (11:00 AM to 6:00 PM), the City of Toronto has a host of family-friendly programming and activities taking place across the entire park, including arts and crafts, music performances, and camp-style games. Planning to bring your pup? Great news, Biidaasige Park is dog-friendly with two dedicated off-leash areas with some fun activities they can participate in too – there's something for everyone this weekend! The new river is open for paddling all weekend. Don’t have a boat? Check back over the summer and join one of several organized paddling tours.

What’s in a name?
Biidaasige (pronounced bee-daw-sih-geh) means “sunlight shining toward us” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin. The name was gifted by Council in 2024 and honours the black cherry trees that once thrived in the area over 200 years ago. Formerly known as Villiers Island, the area was officially renamed Ookwemin Minising (pronounced Oh-kway-min Min-nih-sing) in November 2024.

Get to know Toronto’s newest park on the Waterfront
As the largest new park to open in a generation, Biidaasige Park is a bold step forward in the transformation of Toronto’s eastern downtown waterfront. Part of flood protection efforts, this 60-acre park is a shining example of innovative, forward-thinking city-building that now safeguards almost 500 acres of land from flood risk.

So, what can you expect at Biidaasige Park?
Picnic areas, bbqs and relaxing greenspace
A vibrant playground with larger-than-life animal sculptures representing Anishinaabe, Ongwehonwe, and Huron dodems
Ziplines and a splash-worthy waterplay feature called “The Badlands Scramble”
A scenic 5-km recreational loop for walking and cycling
River access points for fishing, birdwatching, and non-motorized boating (note: there are no boat rentals this summer, but there will be paddling tours on offer throughout August)
Two off-leash dog areas and a pebble landing for launching canoes and kayaks
Come explore a waterfront park that’s reinventing city life.

​Sat Jul 19th and Sun July 20; 11:00am - 6:00pm
Biidaasige Park, 39 Commissioners St, Toronto, ON M5A 1A6, Canada

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