2022: ThistlePOPS
plazaPOPS Aims to Enhance Community in Suburban Landscapes
November 10, 2022
University of Guelph
ThistlePOPS 2022
For 6 weeks in the summer of 2019, WexPOPS popped up in a parking lot in the Wexford Heights neighbourhood in Toronto, inviting the public to spend time in the parking lot the way they might in a traditional public space: There is no cost to enter and everyone is welcome.
For 6 weeks in the summer of 2019, WexPOPS popped up in a parking lot in the Wexford Heights neighbourhood in Toronto, inviting the public to spend time in the parking lot the way they might in a traditional public space: There is no cost to enter and everyone is welcome.
For WexPOPS, plazaPOPS was engaged in a community design process with the help of our Community Working Group, comprised by local residents, Scarborough community organizers and business owners. Masters of Landscape Architecture students from the University of Guelph were engaged in the community design process through Professor Brendan Stewart’s Community Design studio.
WexPOPS, the pilot plazaPOPS popped up in July 2019 alongside the Wexford Heights BIA’s annual Taste of Lawrence festival. The installation occupied 10 parking spots at the Wexford Plaza. Throughout the installation, the site was programmed by events, concerts and other community initiatives.
Site & neighbourhood context
The Wexford Heights BIA, known for its creativity and its annual ‘Taste of Lawrence’ street festival, is home to over 60 diverse restaurants within its two-kilometer jurisdiction.
Host land owners & collaborators
The wexford restaurant
2072 Lawrence Ave E
Hosted the project, providing 10 parking spaces
AC waterjet
123 Crockford Blvd
Donated CNC milling services to create the WexPOPS signs and the Wish Tree.
CAS signs co
2080 Lawrence Ave E
Donated all the printing for WexPOPS signs
Rose’s kitchen
2602 Eglinton Ave E
Provided reduced cost food for the PATTY-O event.
Photo fast
2078 Lawrence Ave E
An employee from photo fast provided a DJ set
Project documentation
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Project team & collaborators
None of this would be possible without our vast network of collaborators
Wanda Howard
Project Manager
Jacob Pullman
Project Manager
Warren Russell
Building Volunteer
Keith Fraser
Event Planner
Victoria Chapman
Researcher
Thomas Lee
Project Manager
Warren Taylor
Public Relations
Victor Knox
Event Planner
Mary Bond
Project Manager
Benjamin Lawrence
Community Coordinator
Ryan Harris
Building Volunteer
Maria Taylor
Building Volunteer
Michael Mathis
Researcher
Vanessa Marshall
Researcher
Wanda Howard
Project Manager
Jacob Pullman
Project Manager
Warren Russell
Building Volunteer
Keith Fraser
Event Planner
Victoria Chapman
Researcher
Thomas Lee
Project Manager
Warren Taylor
Public Relations
Victor Knox
Event Planner
Mary Bond
Project Manager
Benjamin Lawrence
Community Coordinator
Ryan Harris
Building Volunteer
Maria Taylor
Building Volunteer
Michael Mathis
Researcher
Vanessa Marshall
Researcher
Funders
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Organization name
Funders
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Organization name
Funders
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Funders
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Project partners
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Funders
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Funders
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Organization name
Funders
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Funders
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Organization name
Funders
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Organization name
Funders
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Exit report
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Media coverage
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2022: ThistlePOPS
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September 14, 2022
BlogTO
2022: ThistlePOPS
plazaPOPS looks to create a community hub in Thistletown
August 5, 2022
The Green Line
Our WexPOPS Summary Report provides an at-a-glance look at our collaborative community design process, and an overview of our impact drivers and measurements of success. As a process and a product, WexPOPS positively contributed to the social, economic, and environmental well-being of its community.
Download report
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