Toronto Star

Nathan Phillips Square will become a greener, more people-friendly civic space, now that a city jury has chosen a plan to rejuvenate one of our key meeting places. What is envisioned amounts to a comfortable renovation rather than a radical redesign. But it fits the relatively conservative project guidelines set out by the city, and will certainly be a marked improvement over what exists now. Featuring newly planted trees along three sides of the square, spouting water, a new restaurant and a garden terrace, the renovation is expected to cost about $40 million. City council has devoted $16 million to the project, with $24 million to be raised from the public at large and through corporate donations. Mayor David Miller has already indicated that contributors will be recognized "very discreetly." And that is as it should be. A blatant display of corporate names or logos would be inappropriate.