The Rail Deck Park could end up being known forever as the #RailDeckPark the way the social media buzz built for this splashy project proposal this week.
"The City of Toronto plans to create an 8.5 hectare 'signature park,' named Rail Deck Park, that will cover the railway tracks between Bathurst Street and the Rogers Centre," reports Taylor Simmons.
Mayor John Tory made the announcement, but Toronto Planning Chief Jennifer Keesmaat took to social media to trumpet the announcement. The #RailDeckPark hashtag quickly gained steam.
Our growing, bursting downtown needs amenities, to be liveable. So today we introduce #RailDeckPark #TOcore pic.twitter.com/1wcyOSEBgk
— jennifer keesmaat (@jen_keesmaat) August 3, 2016
"In a release, the city said the initiative 'is part of the City's TOcore project, a response to the rapid growth and intensification of Toronto's downtown that is placing pressure on physical and social infrastructure,'" according to the article.
Though the excitement surrounding the prospect of the #RailDeckPark is certain, a lot of the critical details of the project are much less so. According to Simmons, "Tory said there isn't a clear timeline or cost for the project as of yet."
FULL STORY: Massive downtown #RailDeckPark will cover railway tracks from Rogers Centre to Bathurst
Rail Deck Park a No-Go in Toronto
The Toronto Local Planning Appeal Tribunal chose a development project over the mayor's plan to build parkland over a downtown rail corridor.
Meet the Avatars Helping to Plan Toronto's Downtown
Introducing a group of 16 avatars meant to represent the people who live, work, and play in downtown Toronto.
The Most Popular Tree on Google?
Meet Rodney: the Toronto tree getting rave reviews.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
If allowed to operate on the traffic-restricted street, Waymo’s autonomous taxis would have a leg up over ride-hailing competitors — and counter the city’s efforts to grow bike and pedestrian on the thoroughfare.
Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.
Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Caltrans
Smith Gee Studio
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service