The designers behind the revitalization of Ontario Place have heard from the public, and one thing has come through loud and clear: Don't get too complicated.

"We had an overwhelming response from the public to really try not to do too much ... to show restraint and allow a natural landscape to exist," said Patrick Morello at a briefing Wednesday.

The design for part of the new Ontario Place park as of March 19.

The design for part of the new Ontario Place park as of March 19.

"Certainly, there were many responses that wanted ice rinks and roller rinks and other sports facilities, but that was a small group in comparison to the public that wanted to preserve the space for a refuge or an escape from the urban environment."

As part of the changes since the first designs were unveiled in January, the plans have been tweaked to emphasize a more open mix of uses while maintaining the efforts to keep as much year-round use as possible. (The site, on the shore of Lake Ontario, is likely to be cold and windswept in the winter even in years less hostile than the past one has been.)

The plans are being presented to the public for further consideration at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

"Obviously, we started with a very talented team, who know how to take in ideas and have them reflected in the design," said Morah Fenning, assistant deputy minister for Tourism, Culture and Sport.

The ministry is still completing two requests for qualifications, or RFQs, Fenning said. As in January, she said she can't comment on the total cost for the creation of a park out of what was a parking lot for 40 years.

The Ontario government announced in early 2012 that Ontario Place would cease its operations as an amusement park while keeping open some of the money-making elements, including the Molson Amphitheatre and the marina. While then-finance minister Dwight Duncan initially speculated about using the property to host a casino as part of an expanded Ontario Lottery and Gaming plan, that was ruled out by June, 2012.

These latest plans are only the first phase of the Ontario Place revitalization. They do not include the vast majority of the Ontario Place site, and leaves open the question of what will be done with the western portion not already claimed for the Pan Am Games. The government still expects the new park to be open to the public for the summer of 2015, in time for the Games.

According to Serge Chukseev, senior project manager at Infrastructure Ontario, there are no serious concerns about any surprises — for example, from contaminated soil — disrupting the schedule. "The studies so far have indicated there are low-level contaminants on the site, but they're all manageable. Keep in mind, this site was built on landfill in the sixties, so this is not a surprise to anybody."

Public to Ontario Place: Keep it simple

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