On a beautiful, sunny day in October, Mabelle Park buzzed with life as the community gathered to celebrate the grand opening of the revitalized space, including The Belle, a newly constructed park pavilion that reimagines cultural space as social infrastructure. The air was filled with a palpable sense of joy and pride. For Mabelle Arts and the residents of Mabelle Avenue, this was more than a celebration — it was the culmination of over a decade of community-led transformation.
Caption: Community members and the Mabelle Arts team celebrating the official opening of Mabelle Park. Photo: Katrin Faridani
Leah Houston, the Founder and Executive Director of Mabelle Arts, speaking to all those gathered to celebrate the new Mabelle Park. Photo: Katrin Faridani
Mabelle Arts has been working with the Mabelle Avenue community since 2007. Nestled among high-rise apartment buildings — and home to a diverse community of newcomers and Toronto Community Housing residents — Mabelle Park had long been underutilized. Mabelle Arts recognized the potential of this small park in the middle of a vibrant but underserved neighborhood in Etobicoke, envisioning it as a shared space where residents could gather, express themselves, and celebrate their stories.
The community coming together at of one of three Evergreen planting days in Mabelle Park. Photo: Katrin Faridani
The transformation of Mabelle Park was deeply collaborative. Over 700 neighbours participated in its redesign, bringing their ideas and energy to create a park that reflected their needs and aspirations. With the support of artists and partners, they imagined and built features like a community garden, a public art facility with a performance stage, and accessible paths adorned with mosaics.
Nuit Blanche festivities in Mabelle Park. Photo: Katrin Faridani
Metcalf has a long-standing relationship with Mabelle Arts. We have supported performing arts internships, invested in their strategy as a neighbourhood intermediary, and most recently, provided capital support for the final phase of the Mabelle Park transformation. We are inspired by Mabelle Arts’ long-term vision for the community and their unique approach to fostering deep community engagement through art.
The park’s transformation isn’t just about creating a physical space — it’s about fostering a sense of belonging and pride among residents. Mabelle Park is the first park in Canada designed by and for a low-income community. The revitalized park stands out not just for its physical beauty, but its potential as a space for care, creation, and connection.
Mayor Olivia Chow cutting the inaugural building cake with Mabelle Avenue residents Moriah Teklemichael and Zaray Marulanda-Ocampo. Photo: Katrin Faridani
Mabelle Park has always been more than just a piece of land nestled in the heart of Mabelle Avenue. For the residents of Mabelle Avenue, the park’s opening was not the end of the story but a new beginning. It stands as a symbol of what’s possible when a community comes together to reimagine what a park can do and be.