Today, we’re trying to do this bike/walk trip. We’ll go as deep as we can into the Leslie Street Spit which extends five km into Lake Ontario and is over 500 hectares in size. If you’re interested in joining us, but don’t want to face the traffic, there’s this virtual tour.

For a history of TTP (Tommy Thompson Park), look to TTP’s website. TTP is completely man-made, originally constructed by Toronto Harbour Commissioners (THC) in 1959,  the land was drastically increased in 1973. From 1974 to 1983 approximately 6,500,000 cubic metres of sand/silt were dredged from the Outer Harbour and placed at the spit which created the many lagoons and sand peninsulas. And it hasn’t stopped. OVer the years, additional fill has widened and extended the shoreline, and despite the restricted operation hours (mainly weekends) well over 100,000 visitors enjoy TTP annually. Given the high visitor numbers, the proposed residential growth in the West Don Lands that could see local resident numbers reach 60,000 and the development of Lake Ontario Park, TTP is recognized as one of the best areas for greenspace improvement along the Toronto waterfront.

With the construction in the area, we’re hoping to start our walk close to the regular 1:00 time, but that could change!