[URBAN NOTE] "Carefully constructed wetland unveiled in Tommy Thompson Park"

[rfmcdonald]

The Toronto Star's Jesse Winter describes a park development I would like to see.

On Mayor John Tory’s watch, Toronto is going to the birds … and the frogs, turtles, butterflies, and rabbits.

On Wednesday a flock of wild politicians unveiled Cell 2, the second phase of a constructed coastal wetland project on the Leslie Street Spit.

The area spans 9.3 hectares on the spit, providing marshy home for rare birds, endangered turtles, fish, rabbits, insects and other animals in the shadow of the CN Tower.

As senior restoration manager Ralph Toninger explained, the whole area was carefully designed and purpose-built for the animals. Every log and rock in the wetland’s ponds was placed by hand.

“A project like this doesn’t arise easily,” Toninger said. “It’s been 10 years in the making.”