The Morningside Legacy Project seeks to restore Indigenous acknowledgement and presence at Morningside Park through the creation of an outdoor gathering space that can be used for shared learning experiences and celebration.
EXPLORE THE PROJECT
Morningside Legacy Project Overview
The Morningside Legacy Project will provide opportunity to the public and educational institutions for outdoor education on topics such as ecosystem protection, conservation, and cultural history.
The project aims to involve the Indigenous community to help inform the planning and design process on opportunities within the park for the realization of locations, features, and methods to potentially provide educational programming, Indigenous celebrations/ceremonies, and community environmental events.
The design of the outdoor gathering space will emerge from engagement with the Williams Treaty First Nation communities.
Morningside Park: Photo Gallery
The rationale for the development of an outdoor gathering space is identified in the City of Toronto’s Morningside Park Master Plan, which was published in July 2013.
The Master Plan identified the need to establish a location within the park to educate the community about the park’s natural environment.
The Master Plan states that the area would provide a destination for environmental education and stewardship programs and should be designed as an outdoor facility with some weather protection.
On June 6, 2017, the City of Toronto Parks and Environment Committee adopted Item PE20.3, which requested that the City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation department consult with the city’s Indigenous Affairs Office to develop a framework for applying Indigenous placemaking principles to projects within the department’s 10-year Capital Plan.
The City of Toronto Indigenous Affairs Office is working with Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) on this project.
The Outdoor Gathering Space at Morningside Park project has been developed to align with the strategic objectives set out by both the City of Toronto and TRCA.
This project represents a critical step in establishing new opportunities for the community to engage with and learn about the natural and Indigenous cultural history of the park area and Toronto Region.
This project has been graciously funded by TD Friends of the Environment Foundation.
Project Description
The Outdoor Gathering Place at Morningside Park seeks to build meaningful community engagement and educational opportunities that will facilitate an increased sense of community pride and ownership of this naturally and culturally important park.
More specifically, this project will:
- Restore Indigenous presence at Morningside Park through the creation of gathering space that can be used for shared learning experiences and celebration
- Provide space as an outdoor classroom to focus on protecting the ecosystem and exploring Indigenous culture through education and programming
- Explore the opportunity to restore pollinator habitat in Morningside Park
- Consider the location in the development of a concept design that provides a space to gather with potential for ongoing education programming, Indigenous celebrations/ceremonies and community events
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