all projects

thorncliffe park trail and lookout.

Three lookout concepts for an accessible trail from Thorncliffe Park to the top of slope over the Don Valley, developed with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority.

Mature maple forest in autumn colour on the slope above the Don Valley at the Thorncliffe Park lookout site

client: Toronto and Region Conservation Authority
location: Toronto, Ontario
year: 2021 to 2022
status: Completed 2022
thinc's role: Concept design, stakeholder consultation, design guidelines

thinc design worked closely with the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) to develop three lookout options for the Thorncliffe Park Trail and Lookout. The goal was an accessible, convenient path from the existing park to the top of slope, with views down into the Don Valley and south to the downtown skyline.

The existing tree cover and understory planting, the City of Toronto Accessibility Design Guidelines, the City of Toronto Multi-Use Trail Guidelines and the TRCA Standards for New Trail Construction guided every option. The result was three concepts that vary in materials, scale, complexity and cost.

Option 1 is an at-grade crushed granular trail and lookout with a post and paddle fence. Option 2 is a raised wood boardwalk and lookout deck on helical piles, with an integrated railing and accessible wood seating platforms. Option 3 adds a wood and steel lookout deck with a cantilevered steel grate platform over the slope.

All three share an entrance node with trail sign markers, leaf-shaped corten bike rings, accessible wood benches and seating, and interpretive signage. Each was tested against the trees it would affect, with tree protection and mitigation measures set out for every option.

TRCA received plan and section renderings, precedent images, and a technical memo with design descriptions, guidelines and rough order of magnitude cost estimates to support their decision.

Plan and side view of option 2, a raised wood boardwalk and lookout deck with seating platforms, with precedent images and context map — Option 2: raised wood boardwalk and lookout deck.

Worn clearing with a picnic table beneath tall trees at the top of slope, Thorncliffe Park lookout site — The existing informal clearing at the top of slope.

Dirt footpath winding between large trees and fallen leaves toward the Thorncliffe Park lookout site — The existing footpath, with surface roots and mature trees along the route.

Plan of option 1, an at-grade crushed granular trail and lookout with leaf-shaped seating, with precedent images and context map — Option 1: at-grade granular surface trail and lookout area.

Plan and side view of option 3, a raised wood boardwalk with a wood and steel lookout deck and cantilevered platform, with precedent images and context map — Option 3: raised wood boardwalk with wood and steel lookout deck.

more projects

ridge trail don valley