Local Planning Appeal Tribunal decision protects land earmarked for Rail Deck Park as parkland

Rail Deck Park

Today, the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) dismissed the appeal of the City Council-approved Official Plan Amendment 395 (OPA 395) which designated the area above the rail corridor for a new park and open space, known as Rail Deck Park. This decision allows the planning vision and framework laid out in OPA 395 to move forward.

In December 2017, Toronto City Council adopted OPA 395 that sets the policy framework for Rail Deck Park, to be constructed in the area from Bathurst Street in the west, to Blue Jays Way in the east, south of Front Street West and above the northern limit of Northern Linear Park to the south (in the CityPlace neighbourhood). 

As noted in the LPAT decision, Rail Deck Park is a bold proposal to help address the parkland deficiency in downtown Toronto and support the development of complete communities.

The decision also acknowledged Rail Deck Park as a transformative city-building project which will be recognized on the world stage. Rail Deck Park will be built on an innovative decking structure that protects for the full operation of the railways below.

The City of Toronto continues to advance the Council-approved work plan for Rail Deck Park and looks forward to working with the various stakeholders in the rail corridor, including Metrolinx, to make this project a reality. 

Quotes
“Today’s decision about Rail Deck Park from the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal is good news for Toronto and its future. This reaffirms the City’s initial intentions to make this land available for an important community development that will ultimately be a very popular park.” 
– Toronto Mayor John Tory

“Rail Deck Park is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a larger park in the downtown area. It will create a unique and flexible space that can accommodate a variety of different activities.”
– Gregg Lintern, Chief Planner and Executive Director, City Planning, City of Toronto

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