PEOPLE AND PATIOS CREATE GREAT PLACES

When people came together to enjoy CaféTO’s diverse assortment of patios and parklets, the result was the creation of newly invigorated, vibrant and animated places throughout the City of Toronto.

CaféTO had the effect of transforming full streets and neighbourhoods with its presence, bringing activity, excitement and opportunity back into the City. Whether it was the sounds of live music filling the streets, unique décors enlivening the streetscape, impromptu gatherings and entertainment occurring alongside restaurants or local artists’ work lining the roadways, the approach to CaféTO was as diverse as the neighbourhoods it brought new life into.

Beyond the practical reasons for the creation of Toronto’s CaféTO program, the benefits—in the way of placemaking, neighbourhood transformation, arts and cultural showcase and opportunities for innovation, expression and design in the form of diverse café setups—are plentiful.

The program is a prideful example of how resiliency, diversity and flexibility combine to make the best of an otherwise hopeless situation. The City of Toronto intends to make the CaféTO program a long-standing part of its summers—shifting the way we understand the urban public realm and the versatility of transportation infrastructure.