The process of revamping Toronto’s Ontario Place will begin with creation of a waterfront park early next year.

The 3-ha (7.5-acre) park site and trail will replace a current parking lot and be free to the public. Last month, it was announced landscape architects LANDinc and West 8 were chosen to design the space. The firms were chosen for their experience with other North American large-scale waterfront projects. The site of Ontario Place is on a man-made island on the shore of Lake Ontario. The amusement park opened in 1971, and was closed in 2011.

The plan for the park and trail is to link it with the existing 780-km (484-mi) waterfront trail system. This will be the first step in the complete overhaul of the provincially owned site. In the spring, the existing parking lot will be removed followed by site preparation and underground infrastructure development. This first phase is scheduled to be completed in time for the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games.

Tourism Minister Michael Chan is encouraging residents to voice their opinions on how the space should be used. The first chance for this will be at a public meeting being held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on December 4 from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.