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The Gardiner Expressway is an elevated mega-highway built in the 1950’s, running for 6.5km through Toronto’s downtown core, just steps from Lake Ontario. Singular in its intent and objective – to bypass the city itself in service of mobility – the Gardiner is a physical embodiment of mid-century ideals.

But Toronto has changed. Though convenient for cars above, the Gardiner acts as an obstacle at street-level below. Our waterfront, formerly a major industrial corridor, is now a thriving a site for recreation, tourism, and culture. The city continues to bloom upwards – today more than 200,000 people live next door to the Gardiner, mostly in tight high-rise communities.

But what if the Gardiner could do more for the city? What it we could unlock its opportunities for our community?

The Bentway leads a creative movement “to ignite the urban imagination”, working together to find new possibilities for the Under-Gardiner Corridor.

See our impact in action:

We’re a new type of civic organization in Toronto: an independent not-for-profit and registered charity fueled by a unique partnership with the city.

Our impact began in 2018 with the opening of Bentway 1.0, a 170,000 sq. ft site that quickly became a beloved backyard park for local families and a growing platform for artists working in the public realm. Since then, our sites and programming has drawn over 940,000 visitors.

Now, our work continues, with pop-up and roaming programming throughout our neighbourhood; research and advocacy to unlock the Gardiner’s potential from end to end; and a steadfast commitment to radical accessibility and co-creation throughout all our work. The Bentway’s programming is accessible and participatory, exploring the site’s unique histories, features and possibilities.

Our work wouldn’t be possible without the growing family of city-builders who support The Bentway year-round.