plazaPOPS: Wexford Blooms!
Trading parking spaces for people places
plazaPOPS Overview
plazaPOPS supports the transformation of parking lots and other under-invested spaces, into free, safe and accessible gathering places where already existing vibrant culture, community and business can continue to thrive. Largely located along suburban main streets, plazaPOPs partners with local community groups, landowners and businesses, to support and celebrate the community connections and vital small businesses that exist in these areas.
WexPOPS Overview
Wexford Blooms Overview
After the success of plazaPOPS and the Wexford BIA's pilot, plazaPOPS received funding from the Federal Development Agency for Southern Ontario through the City of Toronto to continue expanding the program. plazaPOPS returned to Wexford in 2023 with Wexford Blooms, a series of 4 installations between Pharmacy Ave and just east of Warden Ave that created comfortable spaces to meet friends, eat tasty local take out, and create connections with new neighbours. Wexford Blooms will be returning to the BIA in 2024!
Popping up at the iconic Wexford Plaza, WexPOPS—the pilot PlazaPOPS project—took place from
July 5 - August 17, 2019. In partnership with our BIA, WexPOPS proposed a big idea: to test the viability of exchanging parking spots for a community gathering space on private commercial property. Using just 10 parking spots, WexPOPS hosted concerts, dance parties, artist workshops, and more, creating a space for local residents to meet each other and attracting visitors from other parts of Toronto and beyond to check out the neighbourhood and support local businesses.
I was in the parking lot in the middle of a hot day; it was amazing how cool it was under the umbrellas; I could look up and see butterflies, people walking by, and life around me. It was just ‘wow’.
— WexPOPS Visitor
Volunteer Opportunities
We are excited to announce that WexPOPS is making its return in 2024!
If you are interested in volunteering and playing a key role in making WexPOPS a success, please fill out the form below and a member of our team will be in touch.
