Tommy Thompson Park

Tommy Thompson Park, located at the tip of the Leslie Street Spit just minutes from downtown Toronto, spans over 500 ha of reclaimed land now managed as an urban wilderness by TRCA. Created from landfill rubble over decades, it has evolved into vital habitat for over 300 species of birds, making it one of the premier bird‑watching sites in the GTA.

The park features a 5 km multi‑use paved trail leading out to Vicki Keith Point and the Toronto Harbour Light lighthouse. Visitors enjoy wildflower meadows, cottonwood forests, coastal marshes, cobble beaches and sand dunes, plus panoramic views of Lake Ontario and the downtown skyline.

Access is limited: open weekends and holidays from dawn (~5:30 a.m.) to 9 p.m., and weekday evenings from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., because weekday daytime access remains controlled by PortsToronto. Entry and parking are free, but pets and motorized vehicles—including e‑bikes—are strictly prohibited to protect nesting wildlife.

TRCA offers educational programming including guided bird‑watching, nature clubs, summer camps and a bird research station that has banded over 70,000 birds since 2003. The Nature Centre provides portable toilets, water fill stations, and interpretative signage along the trail.

Because much of the habitat is sensitive—including colony nesting herons and ground‑nesting songbirds—visitors are urged to stay on marked trails at all times. Seasonal closures and dredging operations occasionally restrict access to parts of the spit, such as the pedestrian bridge until December 2025. It is recommended to check the park’s updates before visiting.