Greetings! It has been a good catch-up week after my trip to Philadelphia. I traveled with a carry-on so it did not take long to unpack, do laundry and put everything away after the trip. I resumed my routine at home. I cycled or walked to explore local places every day this week. I visited Toronto’s new park named Love Park by the waterfront.
Love Park
Love Park was officially opened on Friday June 23, 2023. The new outdoor space is centred around a heart-shaped pond. The park’s whimsical design is from renowned landscape architects Claude Cormier & Associates who also designed Toronto’s Berczy Park and Sugar Beach.
I have a picture of the renderings of Love Park before construction started. It’s wonderful to see the renderings turned into a new and beautiful park in time for summer enjoyment.
Here are five photos of the new park with its central pond framed by a red mosaic tile bench, new green space, new benches, new tables and chairs, and adorable bronze sculptures of local wildlife. The horse chestnut tree inside the pond was in full bloom.
Outside the Box
Along the sidewalk on the south side of Love Park, I discovered three painted traffic signal boxes and added the images to my digital Outside the Box photo collection. The colourful designs, created by four artists known as FBC Collective, feature local animals and waterfront scenery.
Love Park is a beautiful addition to Toronto’s waterfront.
The ‘blues’ in my post are for Terri’s #SundayStills July colour challenge and since Marsha at Always Write blog thought Love Park is “What a lovely relaxing place to be“, I’m linking up with her WQ#28, too.
Weekend Coffee Share
I’d love for you to share what’s been happening, simple joys from your week and/ or favourite public art photos from around the world in the comments or Weekend Coffee Share linkup #126 InLinkz below.
Copyright © 2024 natalietheexplorer.home.blog – All rights reserved.
Natalie the Explorer 
Nice park, Natalie did you mention the location.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Kevin for stopping by. Love Park is at Harbourfront, York Street and Queens Quay West.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Where the old Hot Wheels off ramp from the Gardiner Exp. used to be?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. The transformation is well done and beautiful.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a pretty place Natalie – and the perfect spot for summer. I’ve never seen a heart shaped pool like this in a public space, so it’s even more unusual. I also loved the bronze animal sculptures – very clever.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Leanne, The landscape architect Claude Cormier and his associates have done a few ‘statement’ parks in Toronto. The Love Park is beautiful IRL. I think it’s going to be popular on Valentine’s day and for weddings or marriage proposals.
LikeLike
This looks a lovely spot – I especially like the sculptures, the chipmunk most of all!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Sarah, The chipmunk is adorable and the heart-shaped chips made me smile.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great post. Great that you could show us this new, whimsical park with the bronze animals.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Susan. It’s a park where design and function work well together.
LikeLike
Happy Friday, Natalie. Great coffee share. I hope you have a lovely weekend ahead of you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Shari. Happy weekend to you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well, isn’t this fab? Loved this walk with you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Margaret for joining me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Natalie, What a lovely relaxing place to be. My WQ topic next week is “relaxing,” and you should definitely link this post to it. I love all the details, like the heart-shaped tidbits for the squirrel. The pool bottom is even interesting with rocks. From one angle, it looked like a shiny sidewalk, so it must be very shallow so no water is wasted! The new additions to your Outside the Box collection are super cute, too. As usual, a great post. Glad you had a good time in Philly.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Marsha, The pool is shallow, maybe knee-deep if one stands in it. The rocks around the bottom edge are nice accents. I like the changing reflections in the pool on sunny or cloudy days, daylight and night lights. I made a note to link to your post next week. Have you been to Philly? There are lots to see in that city.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have been there briefly. My mom’s cousin Hal and his granddaughter went there for a quick visit. I wanted to see where Robert Morris was buried since we are all related to him distantly. The people at Christ’s Church let us ring the other liberty bell. Apparently there were two bells, one broken and one still in tact. People line up to see the broken one and the church saves the other bell for special occasions, and I guess we were special.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I have only seen the broken bell. You are special. How cool that you got to ring the other Liberty Bell. I have a Philadelphia post for next week. I look forward to hearing your thoughts after you see it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can’t wait. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love the bright colors and the whimsical aspect to this park. It must be a fun place to visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dan, It’s a fun place to visit and the green space is much needed in downtown Toronto. I forgot to mention that there is a designated off-leash dog park in the north-east corner of Love Park. I’ve seen several happy small dogs there. Happy dogs, happy dog owners 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
New parks are always welcome and Love Park looks like a great new destination for people of all ages.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with you Janet. This park is a lovely addition to Toronto’s waterfront.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Looks like a lovely new park to sit in and enjoy. I always love to see your utility boxes!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like this park design and the reflecting pool. The new trees and shrubs around the park will take time to grow but I imagine the park will look even better in a year or two. I’m glad you love to see my utility boxes. I have several new ones to share in the near future.
LikeLike
Wow, that is a sizable pool, cute that it is heart-shaped, Natalie! The sculptures are adorable. I see lots of blue in the images, just in time for Sunday Stills Blue in a couple of days. I also love all that shade–I wonder if people can wade in the pool?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Terri, I didn’t read all the signs at Love Park but I’m pretty sure wading in the pool at Love Park is discouraged or even prohibited for safety reasons. Toronto has separate wading pools at some parks. Having said that, this week has been a scorcher here. I wouldn’t be surprised if someone decided to dip their hands or feet in that pool to cool off. I made a note to link up with your Sunday Stills post.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those sculptres are gorgeous and the shape of the pond is sweet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a great idea to place those animal sculptures at Love Park. I’m glad you like them.
LikeLike
I love the painted boxes. Great picture of the park.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Ganga. Those colourful painted boxes feature local wildlife and neighbourhood.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I so LOVE the idea and reality of the Love Park. What a beautiful place! Glad you had a good trip and are back home safe and sound.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Denyse for sharing your thoughts. I thought that the landscape architect and his team did a wonderful job. The LOVE Park already had its first wedding ceremony on opening day.
LikeLike
A beautiful park addition indeed with the love & heart shapes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Karen. I like the design of Love Park.
LikeLike
The Love Park is very beautiful. I imagine it being a place one would return too often. Very beautiful! As always, I really enjoy the positivity in your posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Maria. I’m an optimist and I am grateful every day for what I have. Love Park has received positive reactions and good use by visitors. There was a wedding ceremony at the park on its opening day.
LikeLike
I haven’t been in Philly in a few years. Next time I am there I should checkout Love Park. At first I thought you were going to talk about the famous love sculpture.
Hope you are enjoying your weekend!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, the LOVE Park in Philadelphia has the LOVE sculpture in John F. Kennedy Plaza. Its name is all uppercase. I visited it and saw two wedding parties had their photos taken at the LOVE sculpture. The Love Park in Toronto’s main feature is the heart-shaped pond and only the first letter in its name is uppercase.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you for bringing us along to this very new park! and such an interesting shape the pond is. I love the sculptures peppered around the water feature – the beaver is so adorable!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ju-Lyn, I’m glad you like the new park and its animal sculptures. I appreciate this new green space.
LikeLiked by 1 person
More green spaces is always appreciated especially for those of us who live in cities!
LikeLike
You got it!
LikeLike
It looks great. I was going to see it on Thursday, but it was just too hot out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I hope you get to see Love Park soon. It’s been too hot out but today is less hot.
LikeLike
The tree was existing, and they did the work around it? If so, it’s impressive that they hung on to it. I bet loads of people use that part for romantic events! Thanks for sharing it. Another item to add to the Toronto list. Bernie
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bernie, Yes, they saved a few of the old trees and did the work around them. They also planted new shrubs and trees. On the official opening day of Love Park, they had a wedding ceremony on site. I think Love Park is going to be popular on Valentine’s Day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I just did a link in, even though I don’t drink coffee. I shared my raspberry lemonade!
LikeLike
Thank you, Bernie. Raspberry lemonade sounds delicious and refreshing on a hot summer day. You don’t have to be a coffee drinker to join my link-up.
LikeLike
I was a bit tongue in check about the coffee. I did a post about living in a coffee world as a non drinker. It’s called square peg round hole.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Natalie – Welcome back home. I love the bronze statues and the brighly coloured boxes. What an awesome place to visit.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Donna. Toronto’s Love Park is very nice. Coincidentally, Philadelphia also has a LOVE Park where their famous LOVE sculpture is located with its name in uppercase letters.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi, Natalie,
Parks are what make cities liveable, and Love Park is a lovely oasis in a bustling city. I’m curious about what was in the area before the park. The citizens of Toronto are fortunate to have a park where some would build high-rise structures. Enjoy, and have a great week. Joe P. S. I love the Horse Chestnut–so glad it was saved.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Joe, Excellent question. There used to be a concrete off ramp for cars to get off the Gardiner Expressway in that area. The City of Toronto decided to remove the off ramp, redirect traffic route and build Love Park. I have to say the transformation is beautiful and well done. There are many high rise condos surrounding the park so green space is much needed. Some of the horse chestnut trees were saved to be part of the new park design and one of the trees is in the pond. They also planted new shrubs and trees in and around Love Park. Have a wonderful week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Natalie,
I love Love Park! It is a very pretty addition to your area and I can see it being used often for loving events. I always love to see all the photos that you share as it makes me feel like I am along for the journey! I have had a very busy month and am so happy I could join in this weekend for the coffee share. I hope you have a great weekend and a wonderful week ahead! 😀 – Diana ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Diana for joining me. I look forward to reading your coffee share and learning what you’ve been up to 🙂 Have a wonderful Sunday and a great week ahead.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love those sculptures, they are so cute.
LikeLike
There are nine of them and I found six so I’ll be back to look for the other three 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
here’s mine https://travelswithali.com/2023/07/09/%f0%9f%94%b7-sunday-blues-%f0%9f%94%b7/
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Alison. I’ll be over to your blog shortly.
LikeLike
Love Park looks like an amazing place. I would so love to visit it. Thanks for sharing it with us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Patrick for stopping by. Have a great week ahead!
LikeLike
Love the design and color scheme on those traffic signal boxes! The park looks lovely too.
I was traveling this weekend and didn’t get a chance to post for the Weekend Coffee Share. I’ll be back next week.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Janet for stopping by. I hope you’re enjoying your trip. I look forward to your coffee share next week.
LikeLike
Lovely Natalie,
Love park reminds me of several that I’ve visited here in the US.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I visited LOVE Park/ John F. Kennedy Plaza in Philadelphia where the LOVE sculpture (uppercase letters by the artist) is located. It’s more like a plaza than a park.
LikeLike
That pond is so pretty! Love the tree in the center of it. Visiting from WQ today!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Kympossible for your visit and comment. I’m glad you like Love Park design.
LikeLike
Love park is so cute!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you like Love Park design. Thank you Julie for stopping by.
LikeLike
The bronze chipmunk sculpture with heart-shaped chips is charming. I don’t exactly like the chipmunks that insist on living around our house, BUT when rendered artistically, cute.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those critters are cute in art form and when I see them in the woods, far from my house 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Catching up on missed posts I never commented on..lol…love all the sculptures.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Kirstin. I’m catching up this week, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person