Throughout the most recent years, Downsview has become a melting pot where different types of land use, culture, and mobility infrastructure collide. One can find a major train yard and TTC training facility within close proximity of institutional buildings and  and urban farms.














In the context of food security issues in the greater Toronto area, Downsview Park is home to important for-profit and non-profit urban farming organizations, such as Fresh City Farms. Some of the non-profit organizations distribute food to marginalized and food insecure neighborhoods in Toronto.

43.  Food security report in Downsview, from 2023 Who’s Hungry Report. Source: Toronto Black Farmers in Downsview fighting food insecurity by teaching locals to grow food (citynews.ca)

44. Food bank visit report from 2023 Who’s Hungry Report. Source: DB_3714-18_WhosHungry_Report_E.indd (dailybread.ca)

45.  Toronto Black Food Sovereignty Plan which addresses food insecurity, and anti-racism, primarily in the Black communities of Toronto. Source: One of a kind: The Toronto Black Food Sovereignty Plan passes in City Council — Downsview Advocate

46.  List of farms (many of which are non-profit) that sublease farmland from Fresh City. Source: Fresh City Farm at Downsview Park (freshcityfarms.com)
























In terms of demographics, Filipino and Black populations are among the top two visibile minority groups, indicating a growth in diversity throughout the past decade. Additionally, the Downsview Park Merchant’s Market is where people of various ethnicities sell and buy a diverse selection of goods and food. 

Despite the void of use caused by the decomissioning of airfield
operations at Downsview Park, local and regional flows continue to bring life into the peripheries of the seemingly barren site. 


47.  Newpaper article about the culture around self-grown food at Downsview. Source: 2022, Toronto Star Archives

48. Artist map of Little Manila at Wilson and Bathurst St. Source: Little Manila & a Filipino-Downsview Connection | Downsview Park

49.  2016 Census data on the top 10 visible minority populations in Downsview. Source: Neighbourhood Profile Data - City of Toronto

50.  Web article about Downview Park Merchants Market Source: Downsview Park Merchant's Market is Toronto's most underrated food court (blogto.com)















Given that the current Downsview site has a significant infrastructural and agricultural role in the city, does the future framework plan take into consideration both the site’s past and current uses? The framework plan does not address any notions of “land back”, nor give any ideas on improvements/expansions to the current urban agricultural systems. 

50. The guiding “principles” of the future Downsview Framework Plan, designed by KPMB and SLA.dk. Source: id8downsview.ca/_files/ugd/4ea6e4_b688d437659749c48a89da5947534b37.pdf

51.  Open space plan diagram of the future Downsview Framework plan. It is important to note that the plan proposes to cut through the existing Downsview Farmer’s market to create more connections. Source: id8downsview.ca/_files/ugd/4ea6e4_b688d437659749c48a89da5947534b37.pdf