Media Advisory: Open Streets TO, City of Toronto and CentreCourt Come Together to Create A Pop-Up Park on Downtown Toronto Streets

TORONTO, Aug. 16, 2018 /CNW/ - People traffic will replace car traffic this Sunday, as the streets become "paved parks" where people of all ages, abilities, and social, economic and ethnic backgrounds can get active and connect with their community and each other. Open Streets TO Presented By CentreCourt, the country's largest free recreation program, is back and Torontonians are invited to come together with their friends, neighbours and community leaders for a wide range of exciting and interactive stations and activities, all while celebrating healthy lifestyles and underpinning the importance of inclusion.

Inspired by a world-class program that improves healthy behaviour, Open Streets TO takes place this Sunday, August 19 and again on Sunday, September 16. This program repurposes existing public assets ? namely our iconic streets ? and provides access to free recreation space (on parts of Bloor and Yonge), focusing attention on the importance of physical activity.

One such repurposing is the Pop-Up Park at Open Streets TO, in partnership with the City of Toronto's Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division and Come Alive Outside. This dedicated area at Yonge and Bloor will demonstrate how Parkland can activate spaces, bring Torontonians together and provide greenspace. The activities, programming and engagement on 5,000 square feet of grass, will facilitate important discussions around the challenges and opportunities the City of Toronto faces in growing and enhancing Toronto's Parkland which is explored in its Parkland Strategy.

Open Streets TO is presented by CentreCourt. CentreCourt is a real estate company focused on the development of high-rise residential communities and has over 5,000 homes in various stages of development across the GTA. CentreCourt takes great pride in the positive impact its developments have on their homeowners and their communities.

The full Open Streets TO route runs along Bloor Street (East/West from Montrose Avenue ? just west of Christie Street ? to Sherbourne Street) and along Yonge Street (North/South from Bloor Street to Queen Street).

Photo and Interview Opportunities Available

Additional activities will include, among others:

• Bloor and Sherbourne: Bloor Street Dog Walk by Toronto Animal Services (starting at noon, passing by Yonge & Bloor at approximately 12:10 pm and ending at Bloor and Spadina)
• Bloor and Yonge: City of Toronto Pop-Up Open Streets Park, Lululemon mass participation yoga class (11:00 am to 11:45 am) and the Official Bike Ride of Open Streets TO (12:00 pm to 12:30 pm)
• Bloor and Bay: Live Green Toronto "Family Fun Zone" including real hands on eco-activities such as making seed balls, taking the Smart Commute "slowest bike race challenge" and spinning the Pollinator Wheel of Fun
• Bloor and Avenue: Royal Conservatory of Music ? piano on Bloor Street available for free play
• Bloor and Bathurst: Jazz music, identity speed dating, youth-led city-building workshop, interactive games about hunger & food waste
• Yonge and Wellesley: Aerobics, soccer, giant skipping rope, street hockey, etc
• Yonge and Shuter: Bike tune-up station, Muskoka Chair seating area, a sidewalk chalk station and skipping, etc

A full list of activity hub locations along the route can be seen here.

SOURCE Open Streets TO