Key insights

• Tommy Thompson Park was formed after the abandonment of the initial plan to create Confined Disposal Facilities (CDFs), giving way for the naturalization of the site to create an ‘accidental wilderness.’
• Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) was tasked with restoring the site, which was created by natural succession to remove the contaminated materials from dredging and improve drinking water quality.
• Using technical lessons learned in Cell 1 and research on the biological and coastal processes of Lake Ontario, TRCA was able to restore Tommy Thompson Park. This led to multiple co-benefits.
• The lessons learned from the restoration of Tommy Thompson Park include designing with human use in mind, the importance of collaboration, connecting underwater to above-water realms, and utilizing adaptive cycles in undertaking restoration projects.

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