Cabbagetown is a colourful and historic neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Right down the middle of it lies Parliament Street, lined with a variety of businesses and a filled with a wide and wonderful cast of characters. On June 27th, 2022, the team at Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds became part of the community, did the natural design and install of the Cabbagetown Parkscape in under four days as part of its Living Streets program. It consists of 200 metres green space including trees, grass, natural seating, pathways and even a naturally hollowed out tree as a photo booth. Below is a visual display of our the transformation on Parliament Street.
What appears to be a think woodland area is actually an oasis ready for interaction and social activity. A patio with seating and places to park your bike draws in friends, and the grassy area with the Sideways Tree, log tunnel, and sand area are perfect for children to come and play.
Our Director of Education, Jill Bienenstock, has already been taking advantage of the space, creating art with children from a local daycare facility.
Across the street, a beautiful patio space is perfect for visiting patrons, and doubles as a stage for musical guests that visit on a regular basis. The silver maple photo booth is a serene place to hide away from the sounds of the city – it feels cooler, too!
You may not be able to park your car here, but it doesn’t mean you can’t park yourself. With seating for up to 250 people, there are plenty of places to take a rest and soak in the environment.
Even something as stark as a bus stop can be revived into a comfortable and calming place. Sit on a stump and wait to be picked up – and get dropped off on the boardwalk surrounded by grass, trees, and flowers.
Less than four days is all it took to turn Parliament Street from something you pass through to something you’re heading to. Be sure to come by this summer and see everything that the Cabbagetown Parkscape has to offer.