I love the Emera Oval in Halifax. And a good part of what I love about it is that it’s accessible. It’s free.
And since then, I’ve had my eye out for other activity spaces like the oval.
Here are two in Toronto!
See Everyone is obsessed with Toronto’s most unique basketball hoops. It’s Orange Functional, a basketball-hoop sculpture by Cuban-born artist Alexandre Arrechea, installed at Biidaasige Park in Toronto as part of the new Lassonde Art Trail.
“Orange Functional by Cuban-born artist Alexandre Arrechea examines the politics of public gathering spaces through multiple sets of basketball hoops that double as a sculpture, turning the beloved sport into an interactive art experience. The installation is part of the new Lassonde Art Trail in Toronto’s Biidaasige Park, which is pronounced “bee-daw-si-geh” and means “sunlight shining toward us” in Anishinaabemowin. The park is located near Cherry Street on the island of Ookwemin Minising, which translates to “place of the black cherry trees.”
And then there’s the Play on the Runway event which returns for its fifth year on July 11 and 12, from noon to 5 p.m. each day, and it’s free, though advance registration is required. This year’s theme is “Festival of Wind,” with giant kites, live DJs, food trucks and plenty of open tarmac to roam. It’s held at the YZD Runway at 10 Hanover Rd. in North York.
It’s exactly the kind of thing it sounds like: a play-your-way car-free zone where you bring your own wheels — bikes, rollerblades, skateboards, scooters, unicycles, strollers, whatever — and have the open runway to yourself. There are also rentals on site and you can try out the newest electric scooters and bikes, rent roller skates, or learn to skateboard.
The official registration is on Eventbrite (free, but advance registration is required): https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/play-on-the-runway-tickets-1987643436023
If you go to either, please let us know how it went. Also, other suggestions of public play spaces welcome!
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