More homes are slated for demolition this summer as the city moves forward with plans to enhance a large parkland area in the heart of Mississauga that when completed could include a European-style food plaza, an amphitheatre and a direct link to the new light-rail transit line being built.

The City of Mississauga has purchased four additional parcels of land east of Hurontario Street, between Dundas Street East and The Queensway East, as its vision for the Cooksville-area parkland evolves, Ward 7 Coun. Dipika Damerla said Wednesday at city council.

“That’s where the next set of four demolitions are going to take place (in July),” the councillor said in providing an update on the huge park expansion project. “Four more parcels of land that right now have homes will become part of the park.”

Damerla noted the city has more recently acquired close to 30 acres of land in the area, in addition to “an existing 23 or 24 acres, so we’re getting past that 50-acre mark and it’s really growing.”

She said a particular parcel of land at Hurontario Street and Paisley Boulevard, just north of The Queensway East, offers great potential as plans for the park system unfold.

“I’m really, really excited about that piece (of land) because if we can pick up some more pieces, then this is going to be a park that people can step off the LRT and walk into a park. And that’s the vision,” said Damerla, referring to the Hazel McCallion Line LRT route that’s expected to open to riders at some point in 2028.

Mayor Carolyn Parrish said she, too, is excited about what she described as a “fantastic project.”

Image shows four parcels of land recently bought by the city that will become part of an expanded park system in the Cooksville area of Mississauga. (Image: City of Mississauga)

Other potential plans for the parkland include a vision to create a European-style food plaza, an amphitheatre similar to the one at High Park in Toronto and a skating trail, Damerla said earlier this year in an email update to the community.

She pointed out, however, that those and other ideas are part of “early designs” and nothing has yet been decided.

The city’s larger plan is to dramatically increase the size and connectivity of parks in the Cooksville area in an effort to make sure a fast-growing City Centre population has access to adequate — and engaging — green spaces in the future.

City officials said earlier it has become clear “…that Mississauga’s existing downtown parks will not be able to support the growing population over the next 20 years.”

As such, the city has invested in significantly expanding park space in the Cooksville neighbourhood “to provide better access to green spaces and address the parkland deficit.”

City officials said in 2023 that 20 acres of newly acquired properties were being added to Cooksville Park and Iggy Kaneff Park (formerly Camilla Park) to create larger, more connected parkland in the Cooksville area (see image below).

Cooksville is located just minutes south of Mississauga’s downtown core along Hurontario Street.

The park-growing initiative, officials have said, will change the face of Mississauga’s urban downtown landscape.

Ward 7 Coun. Dipika Damerla, shown here at Wednesday’s city council meeting, says she’s excited about parkland expansion in the Cooksville area of Mississauga.

In her update to constituents in early March, Damerla said she’s “excited about the early designs” being considered for the Cooksville parks.Further consultation with the community is planned, she added, noting at that time the city will present ideas for Cooksville Park and Iggy Kaneff Park that could include:

A skating trail
Labyrinth
High Park-style amphitheatre
Native garden
European-style plaza where park visitors can buy food and eat outdoors
Attractive spaces for people to hang out

“I wanted a park that people can do fun things like watch a play, run through a maze or buy an ice cream while the kids play, or a couple can go on a date and grab a coffee,” the councillor said in her March update, adding she also envisions “a park where there are winter activities — a park that is more than trails, picnic spots and playgrounds.”

Damerla said the upcoming second round of public consultations will garner additional feedback before the city finalizes designs and starts construction in 2027.

“Parks are important. They promote physical activity, mental well-being, provide leisure and recreational spaces and help with climate change,” city officials said in early 2023. “Parks also provide a safe place for communities to connect, enjoy the outdoors and be active.”

Cooksville Park is located in the area south of Dundas Street East and just east of Hurontario Street while Iggy Kaneff Park is located just to the south of Cooksville Park, south of The Queensway East.

Images show existing Cooksville Park and Iggy Kaneff Park (solid green in image at right) and new parkland added to enhance the green spaces (striped areas). (Images: City of Mississauga Ward 7 Coun. Dipika Damerla online community update).


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