The long-awaited redesign for Ontario Place’s controversial spa and waterpark development has finally emerged, and it’s a dramatic departure from earlier proposals that sparked community backlash.
Walking along the waterfront yesterday, I couldn’t help but reflect on how this prime lakeside real estate has become Toronto’s most contentious development battleground. The revised plans from Therme Group, revealed earlier this week, show a significantly scaled-back structure that appears to be responding to public criticism.
“We listened to Torontonians,” said Dr. Robert Hanea, Therme’s CEO, during the unveiling event I attended. “This redesign prioritizes public access and preserves more green space while still delivering a world-class wellness destination.”
The new concept reduces the facility’s footprint by nearly 25% and lowers building heights considerably. Most striking is the addition of a 12-acre public park that would wrap around the development, creating what Therme calls a “seamless connection” to the waterfront.
The previous design, which many critics described as resembling an oversized big-box store, has been replaced with a more transparent structure featuring extensive glass facades and green roofs. According to architectural firm Diamond Schmitt, who partnered with Therme on the redesign, the building will now allow visitors to maintain visual connections to both the lake and Toronto’s skyline.
At yesterday’s presentation, Ontario Minister of Infrastructure Kinga Surma emphasized the economic benefits, noting the project “will create thousands of jobs while transforming underutilized space into a year-round destination.”
Not everyone is convinced. When I spoke with Norm Di Pasquale from Ontario Place for All, a community advocacy group, he acknowledged improvements but maintained fundamental concerns.
“The redesign is better aesthetically, but it’s still privatizing public land,” Di Pasquale said. “Therme’s admission prices – likely $40-50 per person – will make this inaccessible to many Torontonians.”
The Ontario Place redevelopment has faced intense scrutiny since the provincial government announced plans to revitalize the site in 2019. The Ford government’s decision to proceed without public tenders raised eyebrows, and many Torontonians expressed concerns about preserving the landmark’s heritage elements.
Data from Park People, a Toronto-based advocacy organization, indicates that downtown residents have access to 44% less parkland than the city average, highlighting the importance of waterfront public spaces.
The revised Therme facility will include both indoor and outdoor pools, botanical gardens, and wellness areas – positioned as a year-round attraction that could draw an estimated 1.6 million visitors annually, according to company projections.
City Councillor Ausma Malik, whose ward includes Ontario Place, told me she appreciates the reduced footprint but remains concerned about affordability. “My constituents want Ontario Place to remain accessible to everyone, regardless of income,” she said.
Construction timelines remain uncertain, though provincial officials indicate work could begin as early as next year, with completion targeted for 2027.
Wandering away from yesterday’s presentation, I noticed families enjoying the existing public spaces at Ontario Place. A grandfather teaching his granddaughter to skip stones along the water’s edge made me wonder: will this redevelopment enhance these simple pleasures or fundamentally change the character of this beloved waterfront?
The Ontario Science Centre’s planned relocation to the site adds another layer of complexity to the overall redevelopment. With construction costs for the entire Ontario Place revitalization estimated at over $650 million, taxpayers and community advocates alike are watching closely.
As Toronto continues its rapid transformation, the Ontario Place redevelopment represents more than just another construction project – it’s become a symbol of larger questions about who has access to our public spaces and how decisions about their future are made.
For now, Therme’s revised plans appear to be a step toward addressing public concerns, but the debate over Ontario Place’s future is far from settled.
