Under the expressway: the vision behind "the gift of the Gardiner"

For Judy Matthews, the Gardiner Expressway is "like our Berlin Wall, to be taken down psychologically and re-invented in a way that makes it a place for people." Matthews and her husband Will are donating $25 million to finance the transformation of a 1.75 kilometre stretch under the Gardiner. They want to transform it from a desolate, unused area into a place where people can walk, cycle, meet friends and one day even shop for fresh vegetables. When the new public space is created it will stretch from just west of Strachan Ave. to Spadina Ave. City Council's executive committee unanimously endorsed the plan on Dec. 1 and council is expected to approve it on Dec.