Inside the 100-foot decommissioned plane that is the centrepiece of a new Toronto playground
A plane has landed at the former site of Downsview Airport for the first time since its closure last year.
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A plane has landed at the former site of Downsview Airport for the first time since its closure last year. (Garcia Creative)
The massive 100-foot decommissioned airplane is part of a new playground, or “playscape” that was unveiled for the site earlier this week. The playground also includes salvaged airport artifacts and an innovative water feature. (Garcia Creative)
The playground was built by using different parts of the decommissioned airplane’s body – like the cockpit, rudders and fuselage carts along with repurposed lights from the airport’s taxiway. (Garcia Creative)
It was designed by Danish landscape architecture firm SLA, with local firm Gotfryd Group and multi-disciplinary arts fabricator Anex Works. (Garcia Creative)
Executive director of site activation and planning for developer Northcrest Developments, Mitchell Marcus, says the project aims to repurpose space that will be around for a long time.
“We’ve reimagined them as objects of play and objects that can be taken over through city nature, in order to create a space for the community to gather, for farmers markets to happen, for our winter skating rink to happen and to give people this interactive moment with the history of the site,” Marcus told CTV News Toronto. (Garcia Creative)
Since Northcrest’s official acquisition of the site in April 2024, the developer has opened the formerly restricted area to the public through several community events – like seasonal pop-up events and themed displays and activities. (Garcia Creative)
Northcrest has also partnered with Live Nation on a new seasonal concert venue with a capacity of 50,000 that is slated to open on the Downsview Airport lands this summer.
“It’s an innovative way of redeveloping space where we’re thinking about, what are we going to do long-term?” Marcus says.
“But, for the places that sit empty, what can we do with them until such a time that they’re going to be redeveloped to make them meaningful for the community?” (Garcia Creative)
The unveiling of the playground was a part of the Global Peacemaking Summit being held in Toronto this week, according to the organization’s website. (Garcia Creative)
The summit, held in Toronto for the first time – from June 8 to June 11, attempts to feature the importance of shared public space and support collaboration and connection for community growth. (Garcia Creative)
Construction on the wider plaza isn’t expected to begin for another year but the ‘playscape’ is open now. (Garcia Creative) (fjsarmiento)
Northcrest Developments has previously said that it plans to transform the former Downsview Airport site into seven distinct neighbourhoods over the next 30 years. Though, officials say that they will continue to look for temporary uses for the land in the interim. (Garcia Creative)
Here is a closer look at the playground: (Garcia Creative)
The new aviation-themed playground on former Downsview Airport (Garcia Creative)
The repurposed sink from the Bombardier facility (Garcia Creative)
Airplane fuselage carts turned into planters (Garcia Creative) (fjsarmiento)
The Plaza plays a critical role in bringing events, programs and art on-site well before construction. (Garcia Creative)
Repurposed lights from the airport's taxiway (Garcia Creative)
