Pier 4 Park
For questions or to submit a comment, contact:
Sarah Eakins
Landscape Architect
Call 905-546-2424 ext. 4667
Email [email protected]
Pier 4 Park is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Ontario, just east of Bayfront Park. Pier 4 Park contains a parking lot, a washroom building, multi-use trails, looped pathways, SOBI bike stations, a spray pad, a playground with a tugboat play structure, a beach, a pier boardwalk with gazebo structure, a breakwater, a drinking fountain, seating areas, lighting, shade trees and a large open grass area sometimes used for events.
The park is bounded by the lake to the north and west. Marinas and boat clubs line the lakeshore to the south and east. Bay Street North runs along the southeast side of the park with residential areas beyond. Leander Drive to the east provides vehicular access to the parking lot and maintenance vehicle access to the park pathways. Pedestrians and cyclists access the park via the Waterfront Trail or a down a series of ramps from Bay Street North.
The tugboat is currently closed as it is unsafe for public use. The rest of the park is operational.
The spray pad and playground equipment are nearing the end of their lifecycle and need to be replaced. The tugboat structure is in disrepair and needs to be refurbished.
An iconic feature of Pier 4 Park visible from afar and much loved by the local community, the tugboat play structure is a hollowed-out steel boat filled with rubber surfacing. The lower deck of the boat is accessed by a curved ramp on the south side and by two bridges connected to elevated play structures on the north side. In addition to the accessible “senior” (5 to 12 year old) play structure connected to the tugboat, the playground also includes a “junior” (18 months to 5 year old) play structure, stand-alone monkey bars, a bouncy toy and a swing set. The spray pad includes three different types of vertical stainless steel spray features, some ground jets, a central drain and an activator bollard.
- April to August 2023 - Concept design and stakeholder consultation.
- September 2023 - Online public survey and concept selection.
- November 2023 - Concept presentation to the public.
- December 2023 to December 2024 - Additional structural work for the tugboat.
- January 2025 to April 2025 - Detailed design.
- Summer to Fall 2025 - Construction.