Rush is a Band

A blog devoted to RUSH:
Neil Peart, Geddy Lee & Alex Lifeson

Thu, Mar 28, 2024

Willowdale's Lee Lifeson Art Park set to open later this summer

Mon, Jun 27, 2016@4:47PM | comments

Back in the summer of 2014 the North York community council approved plans for a new, arts-themed park in the Toronto neighborhood of Willowdale named after 2 of its most famous former residents - Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson. The Lee Lifeson Art Park is close to completion and should be open to the public later this summer. A member of Toronto band Zylyp lives near the park and snapped a couple photos which he posted to Facebook earlier today. The photos show a partially-completed mural of Geddy and Alex on the side of a structure in the park. Here's what Geddy Lee told the Toronto Star back in August, 2014 regarding the park:

... "I know my mom is very happy!" ... "We met with the park architects and were really impressed with the thought and plans they have for it," ... "[Willowdale] is where I met my best friend and bandmate," ... "We were humbly honoured by the suggestion to name the park after us." ... "On tour and during our travels, ... we get to visit and enjoy so many parks around the world and really appreciate having that communal green space that is so important to a vibrant city."

The idea was first put forth at a consultation meeting held on April 22, 2014 by Councillor John Fillon and was then formally recommended by the Toronto parks committee on July 17th:

... Early designs for the area include art installations, a collaborative performance space and even a small bandshell for "acoustic concerts," according to [Filion], who first hatched the tribute plan two years ago. "I was standing around one night with a fellow music lover trying to think of somebody who had grown up in Willowdale who was a famous artist or musician," Filion said. "We both came up with the name Geddy Lee almost simultaneously." The councillor contacted Lee with the idea, and he immediately got on board - albeit with one condition. "He said he was interested and honoured, but also suggested it be named after Alex Lifeson, too," Filion said. ...

You can learn more about the park on Fillon's website here. Thanks to Luiz M for the heads up.

Related Posts:
[Willowdale Lee Lifeson Art Park naming gets approval]
[Geddy Lee on the proposed Willowdale Lee Lifeson Art Park]
[Update on proposed Lee Lifeson Art Park in Toronto's Willowdale neighborhood]
[New arts park in Toronto's Willowdale community to be named after Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson]

Share