Toronto’s New Island Park Opens July 19: Explore Biidaasige on Ookwemin Minising

Toronto’s waterfront is about to change in a big way. Biidaasige Park, the city’s largest new park in a generation, officially opens to the public this July 19—and it’s not just another green space. It’s the first park to open on a newly created island called Ookwemin Minising.

Formerly known as Villiers Island, this 60-acre island is the centrepiece of a massive revitalization project in the Port Lands. The park, which spans 39.6 hectares (about 98 acres), will initially open 50 acres to the public in 2025, with the rest to follow in 2026.

What to Expect at Biidaasige Park

Located at 51 Commissioners St., Biidaasige Park offers skyline views, natural spaces, and a wide range of activities for all ages. The name “Biidaasige” means “sunlight shining toward us” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin. And that’s fitting—this park was designed with light, water, and connection in mind.

Some key features include:

Trails for walking and cycling
A large playground with a built-in performance stage shaped like a snowy owl
Off-leash dog areas
Canoe, kayak, and paddleboard launch spots
Picnic and barbecue terraces
A future zip line and immersive art trail

Visitors this weekend can also enjoy free activities from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 19 and 20, including birding tours, drumming, dance, storytelling, and crafting workshops.

Why This Park (and Island) Matters

Biidaasige Park isn’t just about play and relaxation. It’s part of a groundbreaking flood protection strategy for Toronto’s east end. The renaturalized Don River mouth and new surrounding topography reduce the risk of flooding downtown and transform the area into a climate-resilient urban neighbourhood.

When complete, Ookwemin Minising will include housing for over 15,000 residents, 20 hectares of parkland, and the Lassonde Art Trail, an outdoor route that winds through the new valley to a lookout over downtown.

Access is already available via three newly constructed bridges: Cherry North, Cherry South, and Commissioners, painted in red, yellow, and orange—now landmarks in their own right.

A Decades-Long Vision Comes to Life

The Port Lands project, launched in 2017, has taken nearly a decade to reach this point. According to Waterfront Toronto, the scale of work—from rerouting the Don River to creating a new island—makes it one of the most ambitious urban transformation efforts in Canada.

**Photo via Patrick Morrell/CBC** – We can’t get enough of these aerial images of Biidaasige Park, showcasing the park’s stunning rocky beaches.

Landscape architect Herb Sweeney says the park was built with a “landscape-led” approach, using tree stumps and anchored natural materials to manage water flow and erosion naturally.

What’s Next?

While Biidaasige Park officially opens this weekend, construction and enhancements will continue through 2026. The Waterfront East LRT is still unfunded but could one day make the area more accessible to transit riders. For now, the park is walkable, bikeable, and even paddleable—with launch points directly on site.

As city planner Shannon Baker told CBC, the project is about more than infrastructure: “This is really about reconnecting people with nature, right here in the heart of Toronto.”

Would you spend a summer afternoon exploring Biidaasige Park—and what are you most excited to check out first?

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