For ten days in August 2006, the two eastbound lanes of Queens Quay, the lakeside boulevard of downtown Toronto, were closed and replaced with 2km of lawn, 12,000 red geraniums and an archway composed of 600 bicycles – the largest Toronto public art installation in recent memory.
The Toronto Central Waterfront Innovative Design Competition jury suggested the project to allow the public to imagine the proposed transformation of Queens Quay Boulevard in the winning competition entry by the West 8 + DTAH joint venture.
Born as an experiment in reclaiming public space for the people of the City of Toronto, Quay to the City underscored the importance of the waterfront as part of Toronto’s urban renaissance and garnered public support essential for the overall project.
