Welcome to Park Chats
In September 2020, St. James Park reopened after a major revitalization. To reintroduce everyone to the park, we invited neighbours and friends to speak about different aspects of the park—some old, some new! Enjoy!
Al Smith, Exec Director of the St. Lawrence Market Neighbourhood BIA, discusses the evolution of the park.
Jon Jeronimus from RAW Design, describes some of the thinking that went into the design of the new pavilion.
Rollo Myers, long time community member, describes development plans that once posed a risk to the park.
Artist John Notten describes the making the Plant it Forward, part of the 2020 King Street Parklet Design Competition.
Popular local historian Bruce Bell describes the commercial district that was once here and how the park evolved.
Adam Gold from Toronto Free Walking Tours talks about the imposing gothic revival architecture of St. James Cathedral.
Alicia Owen and Callum Owen share memories of their mother, Adrienne Alison, artist of the Robert Gourlay bust.
Designers Sasha van Stavel and Zheng Li chat about their King Street Parklet installation called Swing Stage.