After 15 months of construction, historic Grange Park officially reopened Saturday, July 8, with an afternoon of musical performances, magic, croquet and other free activities. Two hundred people cut a 600-foot ribbon, including OCAD U President Sara Diamond, MP Adam Vaughan, MPP Han Dong and City Councillor Joe Cressy.
Flanked by the AGO to the North and OCAD U’s central campus to the East, Grange Park has long been a space for students to relax and socialize. New furnishings and an improved layout will make it even more inviting for the entire neighbourhood. Two new playgrounds, a splash pad and an off-leash dog area are among the improvements, and the Henry Moore sculpture, Large Two Forms, has been moved from its Dundas and McCaul Street corner to the park, where it can be appreciated from all angles.
OCAD University has had a place at the Grange Park Advisory Committee (GPAC) table since discussion of the renewal began. It’s estimated 150,000 people live within walking distance of the park.