This weekend, an event will shut down a former Toronto airport’s kilometre-long runway to let people run, bike and rollerskate for free!
The former Downsview Airport is hosting the fourth edition of its “Play on the Runaway” event that transforms its runaway into an open playground for uninterrupted fun.
The event is welcoming thousands of Torontonians of all ages to take over the two-kilometre space from Aug. 9–10 between 12–5 p.m. to play around as they wish for a car-free, unlimited experience. Attendees are encouraged to engage in all forms of movement, from running to biking to roller skating, and are welcome to bring their own devices or rent them on the spot.
Besides an opportunity to enjoy the open space, the event will also feature a range of free attractions, including live performances by North Fire Circus, roller dancing led by SUSO Skate, hoop dancing workshops, a Toronto Kite Fliers Club play opportunity, and pop-up sets.
There will also be a kids workshop led by Kids Coding School, with hands-on activities, including air-powered rocket building and real-time testing experience.
“Their imagination isn’t limited, because they see what’s possible before it’s shaped by habit or constraint. This family-friendly event brings Torontonians of all ages together to playfully ask: why can’t a Runway become the heart of our community?” Director, Impact & Engagement at YZD Aytakin Mohammadi said in a news release.
Registered attendees will also automatically get a chance to win a $2,000-valued Cruiser bike in a prize pack contest held at Play on the Runaway.
The event is free to attend but attendees are asked to register here.
YZD REDEVELOPMENT
The weekend event offers a taste of the airport’s anticipated redevelopment, which promises a new, accessible community space filled with cultural programming, open amenities and inclusivity.
The former Downsview airport officially closed last April, changing its name to YZD. Since then, development company Northcrest has been leading a redevelopment plan for the 370-acre land, which aims to transform the area into a vibrant neighbourhood.
As part of the plan, the company launched a global competition named The Runway at YZD Design Competition in 2024, offering a chance for design companies around the world to develop a plan for the area.
This fall, Northcrest says it will announce the results of the competition, which received 47 submissions from 20 countries and 41 cities worldwide. The winning design will guide the highly anticipated redevelopment of the runway, which the company says will happen over the next decades.
“Long-term, the reimagined Runway will be the beating heart of a future community – a collective backyard for tens of thousands of people who will live, work and visit YZD. Today, we can collectively imagine and inform that future by gathering at this historic and iconic place and bringing together imaginative and creative forms of play that couldn’t happen anywhere else in the city,” Executive Director, Site Activation & Programming at YZD Mitchell Marcus said in a statement.
