Sections of Cherry Street that run through a newly formed island in the Port Lands are set to receive new names, pending city council approval.
The motion, which is set to be voted on by city council this week, recommends bestowing the name of Cherry Street to a recently constructed portion of road that was temporarily named New Cherry Street.
New Cherry Street currently runs from north to south through Ookwemin Minising, a small island created as part of the ongoing Port Lands redevelopment, formerly known as Villiers Island.
Ookwemin Minising means “Place of the Black Cherry Trees” in Anishinaabemowin/Ojibwemowin.
The section of road was built to realign Cherry Street to the west, helping create a simpler intersection at Lake Shore Boulevard East and Cherry Street.
Meanwhile, the old section of Cherry Street to the east will be renamed Ookwemin Street if the motion is approved. The name translates to Black Cherry Street in English, reflecting the name of the island it runs through.
The remaining portion of Cherry Street on the mainland will be renamed Lake Shore Boulevard East, as it is “currently functionally part” of the main artery, a report from city staff notes.
The road name changes come as the city nears completion of its Port Lands redevelopment, aimed at preventing floods in the Don River watershed.
The $1.42-billion project involved building a new river valley through the Port Lands, providing a second channel through which the Don can flow into Lake Ontario.
In doing so, the city created a new island — Ookwemin Minising — bounded by Lake Ontario, the Keating Channel and the new river mouth.
Apart from the new roadways, bridges were constructed to allow better access to the island, as well as new public parks. The city has also set aside land for future transit right-of-ways.
Last month, three levels of government pledged $1 billion to fund infrastructure, such as sewers and pipes, for the island, which will eventually have thousands of new homes.
The Port Lands redevelopment is still ongoing, though most of the major construction has finished. Previous temporary closures of Villiers Street will continue to accommodate construction until Dec. 31, 2025.
The Port Lands area was created in the 1880s by infilling what was once one of the largest wetlands on Lake Ontario to make room for more industrial activities, according to Waterfront Toronto. The risk of flooding had previously prevented the city from revitalizing the area.
