Relic Linear Park
Connecting History, Culture, Art & Nature
The Vision
Relic Linear Park is a community-led, innovative approach to public realm enhancement that envisions architectural relics from Toronto’s past set within a unifying corridor of green. Conceived as a linear park with feature parkettes and focal points, this new public realm realizes the hidden potential for more dynamic and beautiful public space within the downtown core. Hand-carved stone fragments, rescued long ago from demolished buildings and preserved at Guild Park and Gardens, are being skillfully re-assembled in designs that combine with the natural environment, encouraging residents and visitors to reflect on our rapidly changing city.
About
Relic Linear Park is a project of the Grange Community Association in partnership with the City of Toronto and Campbell House Museum. The first new element of the project – the Southern Gateway at Queen and Simcoe streets, beside Campbell House – was completed in July 2023. The public celebrated the launch of the Southern Gateway on September 29, 2023.
The Relic Linear Park System is guided by the Grange Green Plan and the Relic Park Prospectus, which outlines the project context, vision, and goals for enhancing and creating new green spaces in the Grange Park neighbourhood. The Grange Green Plan was considered by Toronto and East York Community Council on July 4, 2018 and was adopted without amendments.
The City’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation division is leading the design and development of two new developer-funded parks at 234 Simcoe Street (1,000 square meters) and 292 Dundas Street West (The Northern Gateway, 261 square meters), which will be key components of the Relic Linear Park System and overall strategy. Each of these parks has its own landscape architect, own Indigenous artist, and will have its own distinct character. Construction of these parks will start in 2025. To learn more, visit https://www.toronto.ca/city-government/planning-development/construction-new-facilities/new-parks-facilities/relic-linear-park-system/
HELP US NAME ONE OF THE NEW PARKS!
We want your input for a name for the new, 1,000-square-metre park that will be constructed in 2025, on St Patrick Street, south of Dundas Street (at the condo development with street address 234 Simcoe Street).
A focal point of the new park will be a stone sculpture, Mishibizhiig: The Underwater Panther, created by Anishnaabe artist Michael Belmore, and commissioned by the City of Toronto. It is vital that the new park’s name reflects this Indigenous artwork, and is supported by the artist and the community.
We are proposing the bilingual commemorative name Asini-Aadisookaan-aki / Stone Spirit Park.
Please show your support for this name, or share your comments (positive or negative), by email: specialprojects@campbellhousemuseum.ca.
Info package for naming the new park:
Letter of support from Michael Belmore:
Proposal submitted to City of Toronto:
Sculpture by Indigenous artist Michael Belmore
For more information, see Resources.
The Southern Gateway of Relic Linear Park is funded in part by the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario, and by the City of Toronto.
