Toronto’s newest park (🎁), it is widely agreed, is a jewel on the waterfront and a rare example of the city doing something ambitious. The area, once a flood-prone industrial wasteland, has been turned into a lush wetland the Don River meanders through on its way to the lake. There are plenty of attractions and amenities for humans too: self-cleaning washrooms, a zipline, giant animal-shaped climbing structures, and a hilly Cheltenham Badlands-inspired playground with an intriguing variety of water pumps and locks. “A triumph,” says Designlines Magazine. “My six year old cried when we had to leave,” commented some random Redditor.
Since the rehabilitation began, wildlife has eagerly returned to the park, flourishing amid native plants, big old dead trees, and rocky beaches. Like, unironically, nature is healing (🎁). There are plenty of photos and sightings of wildflowers, birds, fish, mink and beavers, etc. But I know you all are wondering: what about spiders? I had not spent much time in the park, but in mid-August, after seeing the swathes of prime Pardosa lapidicina habitat while cycling through on the way to Tommy Thompson Park, I had to check it out. Continue reading Arachnids of Biidaasige Park
