Located in St. James Town, Toronto, the Wellesley-Ontario Pathway is a heavily trafficked route that connects residents of high-rise buildings to nearby amenities. Many vendors set up tables and blankets along the central path, selling a variety of products to the community. The paths are surrounded by open greenspace that is poorly maintained, underutilized, and unwelcoming; reflecting historic exclusionary barriers based on class and race. The transformation of the Wellesley-Ontario Pathway is defined by a continuous metal ribbon that spans across the site, alternating between benches, tables, arches and play structures. Along the central path, the ribbon acts as an intervention for marketplace vendors to display their products, or a place of gathering when the market is not in use. The play area is targeted for children’s use, where the ribbon transforms into a rock-climbing wall, slides, swings, and teeter-totters. The proposed transformation reflects the vibrant, tight-knit community that is often overlooked.
