Places: Sugar Beach

One of the more interesting urban areas is the strip between the water and the Gardener Expressway. It is interesting because it may be an oportunity to "correct" some of the more dissapointing aspects of the downtown. That is to connect the city with the water and provide some human scale pathways. As its under construction its unfair to judge it yet. There are a couple of interesting places. The Harbourfront Center is a multi-use performace and gallery area and thats already attracting people. One of the completed project is called Sugar Beach, the name is a bit decieving and true to form our innitial reaction was dissapointment at this place, which was more of a landscaped park. However I actually stopped this morning and walked around. Taking it as a park and only a step to a larger development project, then I must say I found it quite enjoyable. It's a study in contrasts. As you can see, from the pictures, looking out towards the water it looks like a seaside resort. But then looking back towards the city you are reminded you are downtown and actually surrounded by more industrial functions.
The official speal
"Canada’s Sugar Beach is a whimsical new park that transformed a surface parking lot in a former industrial area into Toronto’s second urban beach at the water’s edge. Located at the foot of Lower Jarvis Street adjacent to the Redpath Sugar Factory, the 8500 square metre (2 acre) park is the first public space visitors see as they travel along Queens Quay from the central waterfront. The park’s brightly coloured pink beach umbrellas and iconic candy-striped rock outcroppings welcome visitors to the new waterfront neighbourhood of East Bayfront.

The design for Canada’s Sugar Beach, by Claude Cormier Architectes Paysagistes draws upon the industrial heritage of the area and its relationship to the neighbouring Redpath Sugar factory. The park features three distinct components: an urban beach; a plaza space; and a tree-lined promenade running diagonally through the park.
Canada’s Sugar Beach reminds us that Toronto’s waterfront is a playful destination. The beach allows visitors to while away the afternoon as they read, play in the sand or watch boats on the lake. A dynamic water feature embedded in a granite maple leaf beside the beach makes cooling off fun for adults and children."
So here are pictures from Sugar Beach (not a swimming beach, its quite the beach irony) designed by Claude Cormier.