The longest rainbow road in the world was unveiled in Toronto over the long weekend, adding a colourful new destination to the city ahead of Pride Month.

The new installation from acclaimed queer artist Travis Myers dubbed The Long Walk to Equality stretches a sprawling 600 metres, or just under 2,000 feet, across a path at Hanlan's Point on the Toronto Islands.

🏳️‍🌈 Toronto made history today! 🏳️‍🌈

The world's longest rainbow walk is officially on Toronto Islands at Hanlan's Point.

The Rainbow Road commemorates the significant queer history of Hanlan's Point while celebrating love, equality, and authenticity. pic.twitter.com/gXzZNNXfGE

— The Waterfront BIA (@WaterfrontBIA) May 25, 2024

Designed in partnership with Pride Toronto and supported with donations from The Waterfront BIA, Gilead Health, Skittles, Billy Bishop Airport, and Freddie Pharmacy, the installation was unveiled on Saturday morning in a celebratory atmosphere — despite a torrential downpour — attended by community representatives and local drag performers.

Toronto Islands now includes the world’s longest rainbow walk!

Congrats to Friends of Hanlan’s, Pride Toronto, Parks, Foresty and Recreation, Mayor Chow and Deputy Mayor Malik for making this happen. pic.twitter.com/2XtStal5sJ

— Tim Kocur (@t_kocur) May 25, 2024

While a few people have compared this vibrant new road to the famous Rainbow Road featured in the Mario Kart series, the installation's location at Hanlan's Point means that this is a car (and go-kart)-free road designed for pedestrians and cyclists.

Can I bring my Mario Karts?

— Graeme O (@Twasnow) May 26, 2024

The permanent new installation can be found at Hanlan's Point, — a place that bears significance for Toronto's LGBTQ+ community as the location of Toronto's first-ever Pride celebration.

Artist Travis Myers shared a statement on the new installation, saying that "Over the last couple of years I’ve had the opportunity to learn about the hidden history of this place and work to share it with others."

"I've also connected with so, so many people in Toronto's queer community to learn what makes this space special for them," said Myers. 

|But through that process, I,ve also heard from queer people who have been made to feel unsafe or unsupported. People who have been hurt mentally, physically, and emotionally. Stories that have broken my heart into a thousand pieces."

"I know how that feels. Their pain is my pain."

Myers acknowledged the challenge of protecting everyone in the community from intolerance and cruelty, and says the installation is a way "to help people feel bolder in their sense of belonging. A way that geography can reflect back community. Something to empower them with every step to feel like they deserve to be here. That they deserve to be themselves."

"This pathway is where people walked for the first Pride in Canada back in 1971. This is where people walked in the 1930s at the start of the modern queer community as we know it. And this is where we walk now."

"As much as I wish it could be, this isn’t a force field that can protect people against violence, or the history books where queer history should be written. But it’s a start."

Myers hopes that people who walk down this road "feel like there are people walking with you. The forebearers who fought for our rights. The ones who fought so we could be free. The ones who weren’t as lucky. And the ones yet to come, in search of community."