The Bentway, Public gathering space beneath Gardiner Expressway, Toronto, Canada.

The Bentway is a public space beneath Toronto's elevated Gardiner Expressway, stretching about 1.75 kilometers and connecting neighborhoods through pedestrian and cycling paths. The area provides year-round access with seating areas, a green room near the Strachan Gate entrance, and washroom facilities along its length.

The idea of turning the Gardiner Expressway's underside into a public space came from Toronto urban planner Judy Matthews, who donated CA$25 million through the Judy and Wilmot Matthews Foundation on November 17, 2015. A public naming contest drew 884 suggestions; after a runoff against The Artery, The Bentway won on June 6, 2016. The first phase, including a winter skating trail, opened on January 6, 2018.

The name was chosen by public vote in June 2016 from 884 suggestions; "bents" are the concrete columns supporting the expressway above. Winter turns part of the trail into a skating rink with public art, such as Shellie Zhang's Beacons in 2022-2023 and The Gateway by Yi Zhou and Carlos Portillo in 2023-2024. The route crosses six neighbourhoods with 77,000 residents, from Liberty Village to Harbourfront.

The space is open year-round for walking and cycling, with good access to seating and washroom facilities along the way. Lighting varies in different sections, so plan your visit accordingly, and note that programming and weather conditions may affect what activities are available.

The concrete support columns called bents provide more than structural function; they serve as anchors for the power and lighting systems that make programming possible. This clever use of the highway infrastructure's supporting elements allows the space to host diverse activities despite being under a major roadway.