Pan Am 2015

One thing to say about major sporting events, they compel cities to do crazy things. In a mad bid for cash, Chicago leased its parking spaces for the average lifespan of its citizens – for just the hope of an Olympics. Athens went through the monumental step of building public transit – on credit – lots of credit. Barcelona now has a park and a rather large public pool documenting the wake of the games.

Toronto is running in the same direction.

Regarded as an ugly, cold, and less salty Mediterranean, history adorned Lake Ontario with industry, railways, and the great Gardener expressway. Like flat shoes to a supermodel, it was seen as merely practical.

While many may have looked at the lake and seen something more than the geeky girl with big glasses and baggy clothing, none had the courage to ask her to the dance. Enter the Pan Am games. It bet its friends that frumpy lakeshore was a hottie in disguise. The transformation began and we are now in act two.

It is 2011, or still months from prom in cityscape time. Trendy but isolated district made from nostalgic booze manufacturing? Check. Sporadic parks blooming along the concrete beach? Check. New condos erupting at a cataclysmic pace? Check. New urban park renewals...

The renovation is exciting and making Toronto a place where you want to live moreover. It is refreshing to see money put to good use creating public and worthwhile goods. One hopes to see the successful Act III of the project and the gorgeous green aftermath.