Teaching Garden Expansion Project
Thanks to a generous donation from the Garden Club of Toronto, Allan Gardens is getting a new Teaching Garden!
This is a City of Toronto-led revitalization project that will grow the footprint of the Edible Garden to include more planting area, and more space for our blossoming programs.
In the new garden, we will grow more food for local foodbanks, and have demonstration gardens to inspire visitors of all ages to take up food-growing and ecological gardening practices at home.
Construction Begins: March 18th, 2024
Scheduled Completion: Summer, 2024
Above: The Teaching Garden Expansion Plan. Designs by thinc landscape architects. Project is funded by the Garden Club of Toronto, and the City of Toronto Parks Forestry Recreation.
During Construction
Programs & Volunteer Opportunities
As far as park projects go, this is a relatively small one. We’re anticipating a summer 2024 opening, meaning our programs and volunteer opportunities should be minimally impacted.
Navigating the Construction
Four display houses, the playground, and the dog off-leash area continue to be open during construction. The Palm House continues to be closed during the Palm House Reconstruction Project.
The suggested walking route between the North and South entrances of the display houses has been temporarily lengthened due to this construction project, so please plan accordingly. See the map below for an update to the suggested route. The Friends and the City of Toronto anticipate this to be a quick project, and we look forward to a reopening of the walkways on the west side of the park this summer!
Progress Update
March 16th, 2024
Friends of Allan Gardens volunteers salvaged 100s of perennials from the Edible Garden. Some plants will be saved and replanted in the new garden. Most plants were given away to the community.
March 16th, 2024
The City of Toronto Parks Forestry and Recreation installed a protective fencing around the south-facing wall of the Children’s Conservatory. If you’re familiar with this garden bed, you’ll know about the unique microclimate we’re looking to preserve here. In this small garden bed, we have crepe myrtles growing. These plants are common in the US South. The ones planted at Allan Gardens might be the only crepe myrtles planted outdoors in Toronto. They thrive due to our microclimate, and we’re grateful that the City of Toronto has helped us to preserve these plants.
March 17th, 2024
In the photo, Toronto Centre Councillor Chris Moise (in St. Patrick's Day green) joins members of Friends of Allan Gardens and The Garden Club of Toronto to celebrate the garden's growth. The project will take a few months... then let the planting begin!
March 18th, 2024
Construction fencing went up, and the black metal perimeter fencing came down. The black metal fence will be salvaged and re-incorporated into the new design.
The raised beds were emptied and the soil will be used for regrading. The metal raised beds will also be salvaged and reused in the new design.
April 16th, 2024
Looking through the fence, this is the view from the Allan Gardens Playground! It’s a great place to watch these cool construction vehicles working away. While the garden doesn’t look too green now, it will be a verdant green paradise… perhaps as soon as this summer. Can’t wait!
