Toronto Parks, Gardens, and Public Squares

[Taller, Better]

[Taller, Better]

That is not to say I don't love manicured parks; I do!! And some of our greatest parks, like Queen's Park, really need some hefty sprucing up. In any case, I'll post some pics of various parks over the weekend. I'll start with Wychwood Park, which is one of the least known in Toronto; according to Wiki, "It was founded as an artists colony in the late nineteenth century as a private project by painter Marmaduke Matthews and Alexander Jardin"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wychwood_Park
Many of the houses in the park are Arts and Crafts style, and this little enclave is about as English as you will find in the City. You don't have to let your mind wander far to imagine warm beer, cricket on the green and spinsters riding their bicycles to church (to paraphrase John Major ):

[Taller, Better]

I'm not put off by cemeteries, therefore enjoy the parkland around them. This one around St James the Lesser Chapel is a nice place to escape Jamestown:





The CNE is an old fashioned "Amusement Park", and a true throwback to the 1920's:





Here is the site of Toronto's first fort, Fort Rouille, built back in 1750. It lasted less than a decade, however:







the oldest surviving building in Toronto is at the CNE; Scadding Cabin from 1793. Only two of our cabins from the 1790's still exist:



Old Fort York, also from the 1790's, but rebuilt after it was burned by
the Americans in the War of 1812:

[Taller, Better]

Riverdale Park:





























the old Riverdale Zoo, now unused:
































I'll post more parks later!

[Marcanadian]

Ah, cemeteries. My grandfather used to say that people were dying to get in there.

[Nouvellecosse]

Wow, Riverdale Park sure is lush isn't it? I'd say it looks like the real deal! High Park is great too but can't compare to that IMO.

I think all the old architectural features really add to it.

[InTheBeach]

Originally Posted by Nouvellecosse

Wow, Riverdale Park sure is lush isn't it? I'd say it looks like the real deal! High Park is great too but can't compare to that IMO.

I think all the old architectural features really add to it.

High Park is head-and-shoulders above Riverdale Park (which is still a great park) IMO.

But the best in Toronto would be the Islands. One of the best parks in the world in my view.

While it has enormous potential, I can't stand Downsview right now.

And 50 years from now, people will really understand the value of the Rouge, Don Valley, and Humber River.

[Taller, Better]

Scarborough Bluffs:







and the parks continue westward through Scarborough toward The Beach:



Lot's of secluded beaches that have been favourites for nude sunbathers longer
than I've lived in this city:



The trail down the cliff to the beach down below, at Warden and Kingston Road:









Scarborough can be much prettier than most people realise:



tons of beaches around Kew Beach, and Ashbridge Bay:










I agree with Beach; the award for the most beautiful park in Toronto are
the Toronto Islands:











Hanlan's Point was actually a City of Toronto nude beach 100 years ago... for some reasons
that official blessing came to a halt and was not resurrected till 2002, but it has always
been an unofficial place to doff one's clothes and soak up the sun. The only other official
"clothing optional" beach in Canada is Wreck Beach in Vancouver. Here is old Ned Hanlan:







They say that "Centreville is for Kids", but I like it too!



an extremely rare century old wooden Merry Go Round, with hand carved
animals and a huge Wurlitzer Organ.



Who could look at this oncoming beast and not be terrified??



my favourite of the animals:



You can wander all day 'round the Islands:

































St Jame's Park downtown:







Clarence Park:

[Taller, Better]

Glenn Gould Park, with the most charming Peter Pan Statue (one of a few made of a mould of the original in Hyde Park, London):





















The nearby Amsterdam Park, just across Avenue Road, which has a copy of the
Peace Fountain in Amsterdam that was donated to the City back in the '20's:







they knew about effortless, yet elegant living back then:

[Taller, Better]

Queen's Park, which although it is a stunning planned mid Victorian park, is probably the one in most need of upgrading:









Garrison Park, where this old soldier stands guard over hundreds
of graves in Toronto's first military cemetery:



Cawthra Park, in the gay village:



And the very beautiful old High Park:







There are over 1,400 parks in Toronto, that cover 7,344 hectares, and account for 11.62 per cent of the city's surface area, so the ones I have shown are just a few!

[Taller, Better]

There are a number of parks downtown that, strictly speaking are private but for all intents and purposes are completely open to the general public. Osgoode Hall has a lovely park:





The University of Toronto falls into this category, too and is filled to the brim with
amazing little parks:



Even Ryerson downtown has a good little park:







a fantastic little urban park in Yorkville, that represents different regions of Ontario:









a great meeting place in the summer for shoppers:







Our historic Allan Gardens:

[Taller, Better]

Scarborough Bluffs:







and the parks continue westward through Scarborough toward The Beach:



Lot's of secluded beaches that have been favourites for nude sunbathers longer
than I've lived in this city:



The trail down the cliff to the beach down below, at Warden and Kingston Road:









Scarborough can be much prettier than most people realise:



tons of beaches around Kew Beach, and Ashbridge Bay:










I agree with Beach; the award for the most beautiful park in Toronto is
the Toronto Islands:

















They say that "Centreville is for Kids", but I like it too!



an extremely rare century old wooden Merry Go Round, with hand carved
animals and a huge Wurlitzer Organ.



Who could look at this oncoming beast and not be terrified??



my favourite of the animals:



You can wander all day 'round the Islands:































St Jame's Park downtown:







Clarence Park:

[Taller, Better]

Glenn Gould Park, with the most charming Peter Pan Statue (one of a few made of a mould of the original in Hyde Park, London):





















The nearby Amsterdam Park, just across Avenue Road, which has a copy of the
Peace Fountain in The Hague that was donated to our City back in the '20's:







they knew about effortless, yet elegant living back then:

[Taller, Better]

Queen's Park, which although it is a stunning planned mid Victorian park, is probably the one in most need of upgrading:









Garrison Park, where this old soldier stands guard over hundreds
of graves in Toronto's first military cemetery:



Cawthra Park, in the gay village:



And the very beautiful old High Park:







There are over 1,400 parks in Toronto, that cover 7,344 hectares, and account for 11.62 per cent of the city's surface area, so the ones I have shown are just a few!

[monkeyronin]

Great pics TB, thanks for posting.


I absolutely loathe these signs for our parks though.




Such awful, awful, design.

[Taller, Better]

I think whoever invented Helvetica lettering should be completely, utterly ashamed of him/her/itself.

[Frankled]

Speaking of Bluffer's Park, how might one reach its shores by foot?

[Taller, Better]

Gosh, it is a long way out to Bluffer's Park, but at that point you can just follow the car trail down. You can also go down the rather steep little trail I showed above at Warden and Kingston Road; in the old days you could just barely walk along the shore about 2 km and get there. I don't know if the water level is still the same, though. It was an uncomfortable walk, with water coming high up onto stones in places if I remember correctly.

[Nouvellecosse]

Originally Posted by Frankled

Speaking of Bluffer's Park, how might one reach its shores by foot?

The technique is commonly referred to as "walking."

[Mollywood]

I think the Islands is Toronto's best park. Guildwood Park is also a cool, quirky little park and is in one of Drake's videos. The park behind the AGO needs a renovation but from what I've read, a redesign should be coming soon. Berczy Park is also in need of repairs. Hopefully development funds from L Tower will pay for it. We are lucky, we do have a lot of parkland all over the city. Downsview Park is under development right now, including putting in a small lake and boardwalk.