Lee Lifeson Art Park was officially opened on Sept. 17, and Toronto mayor John Tory was on hand to present Willowdale natives Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson with the key to the city.

“There aren’t too many artists who can claim to have affected an entire genre of music, or any other kind of art, and we don’t have many that come right here from Toronto, but these are two…who fit into that category,” said Mayor Tory.

The 7,000 sq. metre park, at 45 Princess Ave., includes an intimate amphitheatre, stage and art installations with a musical theme. It is connected to the existing Willowdale Park, near Yonge and Sheppard, by a footpath. 

The festivities were hosted by TV and radio personality George Stroumboulopoulos, who also interviewed Lee and Lifeson in front of hundreds of fans and community members.

Musician Jacob Moon followed with a performance of the Rush classic “Subdivisions”.

Councillor John Filion, Ward 23 Willowdale was the driving force behind the creation of the art park, and the naming of it after the iconic rockers.

“This park is about creativity and encouraging the creative spirit,” Filion said, “and encouraging people to just work on their craft and become great.”

Rush formed in Willowdale in 1968, and rose to prominence in the worldwide hard rock scene when drummer Neil Peart joined Lee and Lifeson in 1974. The band ranks third in the world for most consecutive gold or platinum albums by a rock band, after The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Rush was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013 and were the first band to become officers of the Order of Canada in 1997.

Even with all that success, Lee and Lifeson remain humble, with deep affection for the neighbourhood in which they were raised.

“We grew up right around here. We hung out right around here. We skipped school right around here,” quipped Lee.