WaveDecks facts for kids
The Toronto Waterfront Wavedecks are cool wooden structures built along the Toronto waterfront in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They are part of a big project to make the central waterfront area better. Waterfront Toronto decided to build these special wooden wavedecks along the water's edge. They stretch for about 3.5 kilometers, from Bathurst Street to Parliament Street. You can easily reach all the WaveDecks from the south side of Queens Quay.
These wavedecks are new public spaces where people can hang out. Each one has a different shape and design. They are made to look like the moving waves of Lake Ontario.
Even though each deck has different levels with steps, they are all easy to use for people in wheelchairs. The wavy shape of each level creates a smooth path without steps. This path goes from one side of the deck to the other. You can see these paths because they have yellow metal circles built into the wood.
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Building the Toronto Wavedecks
In June 2006, two design companies, West 8 and duToit Allsopp Hillier, won a big competition. Their idea included building a series of wavedecks along Toronto's waterfront. Each wavedeck is special and looks like the natural curves of Lake Ontario's shoreline. They also help to take back parts of the shoreline for public use.
So far, three WaveDecks have been built, and one more is planned. Each one acts like a special entrance to the waterfront. When the whole project is finished, there will be WaveDecks at Spadina Avenue, Rees Street, Simcoe Street, and Parliament Street. The Spadina WaveDeck opened in late 2008. The Simcoe WaveDeck opened in June 2009, and the Rees WaveDeck opened in July 2009.
Spadina WaveDeck: The First One
The very first WaveDeck was built at the Spadina Head of Slip. It's a large, wavy wooden deck that covers about 620 square meters over the water. It's right next to Spadina Avenue, south of Queens Quay Boulevard. Construction started in November 2007 and took 10 months to finish. The Spadina WaveDeck connects two waterfront parks: the Music Garden and HTO Park. This WaveDeck cost $4.1 million to build and is made from 3,564 wooden planks. It is the WaveDeck that is the furthest to the west.
The Spadina WaveDeck won a special award in 2009 called the Toronto Urban Design Award of Excellence. It won in the category for small open spaces.
Rees WaveDeck: Close to the Water
The Rees WaveDeck opened in July 2009. The levels of this WaveDeck get lower and slope more as they get closer to the lake. This means that the parts closer to the water can sometimes flood. This happens when water levels rise, like during heavy rain. The Rees WaveDeck is just east of HTO Park. It connects HTO Park with the more central parts of the Harbourfront area.
Simcoe WaveDeck: A Popular Spot
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The Simcoe WaveDeck opened in June 2009. Its artistic design includes a dramatic curve that is 2.6 meters high. It also has metal railings to keep people safe. This WaveDeck is located just west of Simcoe Street, right at the water's edge. It quickly became a very popular place along the waterfront. It connects the Harbourfront Centre with the western parts of the Harbourfront. It is currently the WaveDeck that is the furthest to the east.
Parliament WaveDeck: Coming Soon
The Parliament WaveDeck is a fourth WaveDeck that is planned for the future. It will be located where Parliament Street meets Queen's Quay. It is expected to be built once the East Bayfront development project moves forward. Once it's finished, it will be the WaveDeck that is the furthest to the east.
