Public Life Study

To study the daily rhythms and patterns of one of Toronto’s most beloved public spaces and inform the David Crombie Park Revitalization plan.

David Crombie Park is a hallmark public space within Toronto’s St. Lawrence neighborhood. The park is linear in design, spanning 1.6 hectares across five blocks.

The park was originally built in 1977 and is well used by the local neighborhood and visitors commuting to and from sites like the St. Lawrence Market, Distillery District, and downtown entertainment areas.

8 80 Cities led a details and information Public Life Study of the park which provided a snapshot of the daily rhythms and patterns of the public space across 3 seasons (Summer 2019, Fall 2018 and Winter 2019). A variety of research tools we’re used to collect data of travel, activities, and perceptions of the space. Data was collected during the weekday and weekends at various times of the day.

The data collected from the studies was then analyzed in a series of reports, one per each season, that spoke to key findings and insights. The project team was then able to incorporate key opportunities into iterations of the park revitalization plan.

The Public Life Study for David Crombie Park has been completed. The final park revitalization design and recommendation for implementations were prepared for spring 2019.