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TORONTO — Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow was joined by coun. Paula Fletcher recently to officially open Leslie Lookout Park.

Toronto’s newest city park, located in the Toronto Port Lands, contains engineered porous asphalt, a first for a park in Toronto, and an artificial beach.

CreateTO led and funded the development of the park, which repurposes an underused industrial parcel of city-owned land.

Located on the Martin Goodman Trail near the entrance to Tommy Thompson Park, the new park is designed to be a multi-use community destination in Toronto’s east end, stated a release. The centrepiece is the 1.9-acre open space at 12 Leslie St. that connects the public to the water’s edge with views of the full length of Toronto’s Ship Channel.

The use of porous asphalt filters runoff water and means there is no need to rely on the city’s stormwater system.

The new park includes a Miyawaki-inspired mini-forest comprised of 5,000 plants representing 45 species including 2,470 trees, 2,473 shrubs and 1,260 forbs and grasses.

Other features include a 44-foot lookout tower, Muskoka-style chairs on the beach, stadium seating leading up to the lookout tower and benches and picnic tables throughout the park.

A bike repair station was also located at the base of the lookout tower and is free to use.

Leslie Lookout is the first major public space to open in the regenerated Port Lands area and the first artificial sandy beach in the area fronting the ship channel.

“Leslie Lookout Park marks the dawn of a new chapter in the continued development of our beautiful city. This thoughtfully designed space invites visitors to immerse themselves in a harmonious blend of breathtaking views and serene landscapes,” stated Chow in a statement.