Toronto residents have submitted a wealth of ideas aimed at enhancing their city, with over 150 suggestions received. The initiative began with a call for submissions to find "One Great Idea" to improve Toronto. While the original list included eight concepts from notable individuals, the response from the community was overwhelming, leading to a shortlist of 20 ideas for public voting.

Among the suggestions, many focus on improving community connections. One idea proposes organizing block parties to foster neighborly relationships. Lauri Sue Robertson emphasized that such gatherings could help reduce loneliness and strengthen community ties, particularly for vulnerable groups like seniors and single parents.

Another notable suggestion is to de-amalgamate Toronto, which some residents believe would allow for more efficient governance. An anonymous contributor argued that the city has struggled since its amalgamation in 1998, stating, "Toronto is too big to be efficient and responsive to its citizens."

Beatrice Taylor proposed the creation of neighborhood dining halls, envisioned as co-op spaces where residents can enjoy healthy meals together. This initiative aims to alleviate the stress of daily cooking while promoting community engagement.

Danielle Goldfinger, executive director of The Laneway Project, highlighted the potential of Toronto's 250 kilometers of laneways. She suggested that residents should be involved in redesigning these spaces to enhance community interaction and safety.

Other ideas include building elevated expressways to alleviate downtown traffic congestion, creating imaginative play areas for children, and reviving the OpenStreetsTO initiative to promote public health and local business engagement.

Several proposals address environmental concerns, such as the "Neighbourhood Bottle Dividend," which aims to improve recycling efficiency by allowing residents to leave rinsed bottles for collectors. Additionally, a suggestion to build a bridge to the Toronto Islands aims to enhance accessibility to this popular destination.

The list also includes innovative transportation ideas, such as creating "Connection Corners" in TTC stations to foster community engagement and proposing gondola systems to the Toronto Islands for more efficient travel.

As the city grapples with housing and homelessness issues, some residents have called for expanded rental subsidies to provide immediate relief. Anne Marie Aikins argued that this approach could quickly house individuals experiencing homelessness using existing housing stock.

The public is now invited to vote for their favorite ideas from the shortlist, with the hope that these suggestions will spark conversations and lead to actionable changes in Toronto. The voting process is available online, allowing residents to participate in shaping the future of their city.