Toronto’s urban landscape is on the brink of change. A new motion started by Councillor Josh Matlow aims to shift the city’s focus towards better design in public spaces.
From parks and plazas to public buildings and street furniture, Matlow’s proposal to beautify Toronto has now gotten the green light to move forward by the City of Toronto’s Executive Committee.
“I believe that our city reaches the height of mediocrity when it comes to our public spaces, just so much concrete,” Matlow said to Now Toronto, calling out the city’s reliance on “soulless glass boxes” and “cheap street furniture.”
He recalled coming back to Toronto after visiting overseas, and seeing spaces like Nathan Phillips Square and describing it as a “vapid, concrete space that is waiting for something to happen in them.”
“I just know we can do better. I want Torontonians to be able to be in awe of our city, to be inspired by what they see around them,” he explained.
Yet, Matlow’s motion goes beyond aesthetics.
“My motion seeks to do everything from procurement to the quality of maintenance that we provide, to the design of our public spaces and buildings, to street furniture that we put out there.”
“It’s not just about money, it’s also about intentionality. We can make better choices, and that’s what I’m asking the city to do,” Matlow said.
He also highlighted practical challenges such as siloed departments like parks, transportation, and planning, which often work in isolation.
“There will have to be a lot of effort to make sure that everyone’s on the same page and working together, and that’s why I also call for a city architect who can bring all these divisions together to ensure we focus on higher standards and design,” he said.
Former Chief Planner and Urban Planner Jennifer Keesmaat agrees with Matlow’s assessment.
“There’s been a de-prioritization of a larger vision, particularly around public spaces in the city and ensuring that design is prioritized in decision making in the city,” Keesmaat stated. “Like the massive and obnoxious signs and no one cared about the aesthetic or experience of the city, and we see it in the procurement of garbage bins.”
For Keesmaat, design isn’t just about looks but about integrating multiple goals, from safety and sustainability to accessibility and beauty.
She cites Raindrop Plaza, a small but multifaceted downtown public space, as a model. Created during her time as chief planner, the plaza addresses stormwater management, pedestrian safety and green space access; all in one design.
“There’s an opportunity, when thinking about public space design, to integrate a whole series of objectives that impact quality of life,” Keesmaat explained.
DESIGN NEEDS TO SERVE THE PEOPLE WHO USE IT
For Cara Chellew, lead organizer of the Toronto Public Space Committee and a PhD candidate in urban planning, design needs to serve the people who use it, and too often it doesn’t.
Chellew believes that good design begins with meeting basic human needs.
“Everyone needs to use a washroom, everyone needs to drink water, everyone needs shelter from the sun and shade. If we start looking at some of these basics, we can definitely make spaces more accessible and inclusive for everyone,” Chellew explained to Now Toronto.
Highlighting the importance of both universal and inclusive design, Chellew pointed to public amenities such as washrooms that accommodate wheelchair users as essential examples of how public design can benefit a broad range of people.
“These little spaces make so much of a difference to people’s everyday lives, so investing in these everyday public spaces, like public washrooms in public parks, and improving our little parks in our neighbourhoods, rather than creating destination places that can bring tourists in,” she said.
Matlow’s proposed motion will be considered by City Council from April 23 – 25.
“I want us to invest in better quality street furniture, better quality public spaces that can last longer, that can be maintained more easily, and by doing that, the city can remain more beautiful,” Matlow said.
