Walk this way to Willcocks

Wondering about the patio furniture on Willcocks Street and Devonshire Place? Another movie set, maybe a street party? If you picked street party, you’re almost right.

On Sept. 15 the university will host the Field to Fork Festival to mark the official launch of the Willcocks Commons, an informal open space designed for the university community.

Both the commons and Devonshire Place are part of a pedestrian zone pilot project implemented by the City of Toronto Transportation Services, public realm section, in collaboration with the University of Toronto, as part of Toronto city council’s Toronto Walking Strategy.

“It’s a wonderful example of a partnership between the university and the City of Toronto, where the focus has been on the well-being of the campus,” said Elizabeth Sisam, assistant vice-president (campus and facilities planning).

The pedestrian-only area on Willcocks Street will be in place for a one-year trial period beginning Sept. 7 and the area on Devonshire Place will remain until Oct. 8 with the possibility of a second trial period beginning in the spring of 2011.

The university is also working with the city to introduce a “scramble” at the Hoskin-Harbord and St. George intersection, allowing pedestrians to cross on the diagonal, mirroring the crossing at Dundas and Yonge streets. The scramble may be in place by early October. All pilot projects will be closely monitored by the city and U of T to ensure they are well used and don’t cause any disturbance to the local constituents.

The pilot projects are an opportunity to re-imagine the street as an interactive, convivial environment where people are free to engage public space in new ways. Elements such as planters and street graphics, plus movable chairs and tables, make it possible to create distinct areas along the length of the street, allowing for a variety of activities to take place simultaneously.

For example, the flexible street space will accommodate a weekly farmer’s market, while friends meet for lunch or students stop by to work on assignments or surf the internet out-of-doors.

How about a pick-up game of basketball? Thanks to the university’s top basketball fan -- President David Naylor -- two basketball hoops will be installed at the Huron Street end of the Willcocks Commons.

The commons is available for university activities, bookings can be made through the office of space management.

Provided by University of Toronto