Ontario's Largest Chinese Garden Coming to Scarborough by 2028

Scarborough is about to gain a major cultural landmark. The Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto announced that the Asian Garden—Ontario's largest Chinese garden—will open by the end of 2028 as a 1.5-acre public green space dedicated to traditional Chinese landscape design and cultural education.

The project has roots stretching back to the mid-1990s as part of the cultural centre's broader expansion vision. What started as a concept has now moved into active development, with design teams Kasian and DTAH leading the work.

The garden will feature flowing water features, sculpted stone arrangements, handcrafted pavilions, framed vistas, and indigenous plantings—a blend of traditional Chinese aesthetics with local ecological awareness. The space is designed as a year-round attraction, serving both as a public gathering place and an educational hub where visitors can learn about Chinese culture through architecture and landscape.

Funding has come through multiple channels. In 2021, the federal and Ontario governments committed a combined $5.2 million via infrastructure programs directed at community and cultural projects. Community fundraising has added close to $3 million so far. That's $8.2 million secured, though total project costs will likely exceed that figure as construction nears.

Once complete, the garden will position Scarborough as a destination for cultural tourism in the Greater Toronto Area. The centre plans to host performances, educational programs, and community events at the site—making it more than just a beautiful green space. It's a statement about how Toronto's neighborhoods are evolving and investing in cultural infrastructure.

For Torontonians unfamiliar with contemporary Chinese garden design, the garden will offer a chance to experience principles that have governed landscape design in China for centuries. It's the kind of project that takes years to develop but creates generational value for the community.