Ookwemin Minising, Toronto’s New Island Park Opening in 2025: What to Expect
Toronto is about to get a brand-new waterfront destination—and it’s not just a park, it’s an entire island. Located where the Don River meets Lake Ontario, Ookwemin Minising (formerly Villiers Island) started as a massive flood protection effort. Today, it’s evolved into a 98-acre urban island filled with green spaces, ziplines, art trails, and big plans for housing and culture.
With downtown Toronto just a 30-minute walk away, the island offers skyline views, access via three bold-colored bridges (red, yellow, and orange), and a fresh connection to nature—without leaving the city.
What’s Coming This Summer
Opening in phases, the island’s main feature is Biidaasige Park, named to reflect “sunlight shining towards us.” It celebrates the renewal of both land and relationships, honoring Indigenous ties to the area. Visitors will see parts of the park this summer 2025, with the full experience—including the Lassonde Art Trail—opening in 2026.
Highlights include:
- Badlands Scramble: A huge water and climbing zone
- Snowy Island Stage: Built for open-air shows
- Ziplines and paddling areas
- A free outdoor art trail guiding you through the valley to a city overlook
A Future Neighbourhood in the Making
But this isn’t just a destination—it’s a community in progress. With a projected 15,000+ residents, the city plans to build infrastructure, homes, and public spaces over the next few years.
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In January 2025, all three levels of government invested nearly $1 billion to speed up development and create a walkable, transit-connected island. The design team—Niwiijiganaa Gikendaasowin (“We Braid Knowledge”)—blends global urban design with Indigenous and sustainability expertise.
The goal? A “city within a city” that blends housing, nature, and culture.
Why the Name Matters
In November 2024, Toronto’s Indigenous Advisory Circle selected the island’s new name. “Ookwemin Minising” means place of black cherry trees, while “Biidaasige” means sunlight shining toward us. These names reflect the deep Indigenous roots at the Don River’s mouth, a place of gathering for over 12,000 years.
The Big Picture
By 2026, 80 acres of parkland will reshape how Torontonians interact with their waterfront. Add in fishing, birdwatching, river walks, and stage shows, and you’ve got more than just a greenspace—you’ve got a cultural shift.
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As Mira Shenker from Waterfront Toronto puts it, “The heart of this future island community is the Don River.”
So, is this Toronto’s boldest city-building move yet?
Would you spend a day on the new island once it opens, or would you consider living there someday? Let us know below.
More…
- https://www.waterfrontoronto.ca/news/torontos-new-island-ready-launch
- https://www.toronto.com/things-to-do/torontos-new-island-will-be-home-to-a-huge-park-with-city-views-ziplines-and/article_5ac80236-e405-5034-8388-a30d2e783f75.html
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