Toronto is getting ready to launch the next phase of it’s new Toronto Island Park Master Plan, which could mean big things for the destination's food scene. The plan is still in development and will be rolled out gradually, but one of the major goals of the plan is to enhance the visitor experience, including sprucing up the food options available on the island.
At the beginning of March, the city entered into phase 3 of its Toronto Island Park Master Plan. During the third phase, the city will begin formalizing its plans based on feedback, suggestions and community input they’ve gathered for the island in the first two phases of the plan since late 2020. While the details are still to be established, the city has mentioned expanding the options for food on offer on the island in multiple places throughout their strategy.
Among others, the city said one of the main criticisms they received was a lack of healthy, diverse and affordable food options on the island. As part of the Master Plan’s second phase, the city encouraged community members to publicly share their “Big Ideas,” suggestions for improvement projects for the island, with other community members able to vote and comment on shared suggestions. Many of these community suggestions asked for more restaurants and food options across the island.
Many of the existing places to eat on Toronto Island are only open seasonally, but people visit the island year-round. In an early demonstration plan, the city said it will consider creating a destination near the Centre Island ferry landing with year-round amenities to service visitors during both peak and non-peak seasons. The demo plan also mentions adding more affordable food options to help eliminate price barriers on the island.
The city is developing the plan in collaboration with Indigenous rights holders, and part of the plan’s focus on increasing Indigenous involvement could mean identifying opportunities for Indigenous food vendors across the island, as well as providing a dedicated space in the Centre Landing Marketplace for Indigenous food, arts and other wares.
