A 30-foot owl gets a (really big) head

In this blog:

  • We recently finished installing a giant Snowy Owl play structure in the new park, which is visible from Commissioners Street and the yellow Cherry Street South bridge
  • Our on-site photographers captured the construction methods used to build it, including an unusual “topping off” for this two-storey structure – an owl head.
  • The owl has a stage in its belly and looks out over a ‘nest’ of seating for spectators
  • It is one feature of a new park nestled around the renaturalized mouth of the Don River that will open in 2025

A giant snowy owl structure in a construction zone.

The new parks in the Port Lands will open to the public in summer 2025. There will be 6.1 kilometres of recreational trails to explore, places to paddle, and picnic areas – plus, a playground. More about some of the play features.

One of the unique play structures we’ve built is a larger-than-life snowy owl. Designed and fabricated by Monstrum, with the landscape design by MVVA, it is just shy of 30 feet tall and has a stage in its belly. It also includes sound play features such as a drum, bells, and talk tubes for the ‘director’ to call up to the performers waiting in the wings.

Building the Owl

Photographers Vid Ingelevics and Ryan Walker have been documenting the transformation of the Port Lands and captured the moment when crews “topped off” this two-storey structure by placing the owl’s head onto its body.

Workers kneeling in front of a giant owl head.
These workers kneeling in front of the head give an idea of its scale. The body was prepared for the head from a lift.

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The face of the owl structure resting on the ground, seen from inside.
The owl’s eyes also function as windows for those who climb the two stories to the top.

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Workers prepared the neck of the owl for the head. 

Up, up, and away!

the owl’s head being lifted by a crane.

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The owl’s head was hoisted into place on a crane.

The back of the owls head, suspended by a crane.

After the owl’s face was secured in place, the back of its head was also lifted into place.

The view looking up inside the owl's body.

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This view looking up from inside the owl shows the colourful interior. The top of the head was installed next. The owl’s eyes also serve as windows to look out of on the upper level.

A man standing on a stage looking out through the wooden 'curtains'.

Photographer Ryan Walker checks out the view from the stage in the owl’s belly.

Workers sitting on the benches in front of the owl.

The seating around the owl is in the shape of a nest. Eventually the ground surface will be raised here.

More photos of the Port Lands’ transformation.