Queen’s Park North Set for $50M Revitalization with Proposed Weston Family Donation

TORONTO — A historic downtown green space is poised for a major transformation as Toronto City Council welcomes a proposed $50 million donation from the Weston family to help revitalize Queen’s Park North.

City staff have been directed to begin conversations with the Weston family to formalize the donation, which would support extensive upgrades to the park, including new year-round amenities, Indigenous placekeeping, arts and cultural programming, and environmental education opportunities. The proposal also includes long-term funding for maintenance and programming to ensure the park remains a vibrant and accessible public space for generations.

The project will involve community and Indigenous engagement, as well as design exploration beginning this spring. The feedback gathered will inform the final scope of the project and be included in a report to the City’s Executive Committee this fall.

Queen’s Park North, leased to the City by the University of Toronto for 999 years, was originally dedicated in 1860 as Canada’s first municipal park. It remains one of the largest green spaces in Toronto’s downtown core.

Mayor Olivia Chow called the proposed partnership “a welcoming and vibrant space that demonstrates the City’s commitment to enhancing parks and public spaces as the City’s population grows and evolves.”

The revitalization is supported by cultural and academic institutions including the University of Toronto, the Royal Ontario Museum, the Royal Conservatory of Music, and the Gardiner Museum, all of which are expected to help shape programming in the renewed park.

Former Lieutenant Governor Hilary Weston said her family is proud to contribute to the park’s future, noting her personal connection to the green space during her time in office. The Weston family has a long history of supporting Toronto’s public spaces, including Grange Park, Evergreen Brickworks, and the Meadoway in Scarborough.

University of Toronto President Meric Gertler welcomed the revitalization as part of the University’s broader efforts to re-green its downtown campus and enhance its public spaces.

The renewal of Queen’s Park North is part of the City’s larger strategy to improve public spaces in response to population growth and climate change. It will also support the broader University Park vision and downtown park system plans.

More information on the revitalization project is available at www.toronto.ca/QueensParkNorth.