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.
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 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.
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.
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.
