Sherbourne Commons: An Unfinished Gem?

By Kawai Lam

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHAo9RhDCP4&feature=player_embedded

 

Bike Rings, Sherbourne Commons

Open Park Area, Sherbourne Commons

On September 24th the latest project of the often referred to as long planned and even longer incubating waterfront revitalization was officially unveiled, at least partially. Located at the foot of Lower Sherbourne Street and Queens Quay East, the southern half of the recently dubbed Sherbourne Commons (a title awarded after a public naming contest with over 500 entries) officially opened to the public. When both halves are completed the 1.5 hectare narrow park will stretch from Lake Shore Boulevard to the water’s edge, neatly divided in half by the Queens Quay. It will add to the growing amenities, life, and destination potential, of the East Bayfront neighbourhood (considering it now mostly consists of abandoned industrial infrastructure). Recent other nearby Waterfront Toronto projects that have raised the profile of the area are the massive Corus Entertainment complex and the adjacent fully integrated and delightful public urban space, Sugar beach (both previously reviewed on this blog). Another much anticipated project planned for completion in fall 2011 and sitting directly to the east between the Corus complex and Sherbourne Commons, will be the new George Brown Health Sciences centre.

On an unfortunately overcast and lightly raining drab day, I made the trek to the still fairly inaccessible Port Lands area to take in Sherbourne Common South. It was indeed “completed” except for the main water feature: the pond/skating rink that will be the centerpiece of the park, which was still fenced off and clearly in progress. The rest of the park was regrettably at first glance bland. It consisted of a long rectangular area of plain green grass, still visibly freshly unrolled and camped upon by a flock of Canadian geese, and a wide paved walkway down the west side with pleasantly stylish and modern streetlights, benches, and bike parking rings. All of the details in the park furniture were sophisticated and polished, but beyond that there was much disappointment and not very much to the park except for grass, which is admittedly an odd complaint. Perhaps the rain and grey skies detracted from the park’s natural charm.

Bench, Sherbourne Commons

Water Channel, Sherbourne Commons

At the far edge by the water there was however the well designed boardwalk which continues from Sugar Beach in the east through the George Brown campus and presumably extends beyond Sherbourne Commons eastward. The water feature, clearly planned to be the draw of Sherbourne Common South, despite lacking water and completion, was still impressive and welcoming. Designed like the Natrel Rink at Harbourfront Centre to be a pond in summer and a skating rink in the winter it is part of a long artificial channel that cuts straight down both halves of the park, disappearing under Queens Quay, and continuing all the way to the lake. Brilliantly, the water channel is actually a UV water filtration unit which underneath the main pavilion/pond/skate rink hides a water treatment plant. I suspect the full effect of Sherbourne Commons will not be truly experienced until both the south and north sides are completed in their entirety.

I eagerly await for the northern half of the park to be finished, which will contain Vancouver-based artist Jill Anho’s water sculpture installation “Light Showers” in its half of the water channel, so that on a hopefully much brighter and sunny day I will be able to leisurely wander down the full length of the park. I have faith that in the near future, once completed, Sherbourne Commons with be regarded, and more importantly enjoyed, as one of the gems of our slowly developing waterfront.

My great thanks to Flickr user Wyliepoon for his pictures of Sherbourne Commons.