Planning For Privately Owned Public Space In The Greater Toronto Area

Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS) are public spaces which allow general access but remain under the ownership of the property owner. While popular around the world, they are becoming a visible entity in the landscapes of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). The presence of POPS in downtown Toronto has been visible for several decades; however, cities located in the periphery of Toronto are beginning to adapt and create policies which allow for the creation of POPS. Although this integration is at its initial stage, with few spaces constructed and minimal policy preparation, there is a conscious intention to add this type of public space into the network of parkland and open space. Through interviews conducted with municipal planners, this research provides insight into the rationale and motivations of these cities to understand what is driving their pursuit of POPS. This research will contribute to the discussion on POPS from the context of an emerging market. As well, this paper offers recommendations which can assist municipalities preparing policies to regulate POPS.