Kay Gardner Beltline Park

Located at 377 Mount Pleasant Road just north of Eglinton West subway station, sits a narrow eastward strip that ends at Yonge and Davisville. This is a green belt created on top of a former railway line.

History

The railway itself was built in 1892 – the belt line railway went through Moore Park and Forest hill, however closed passenger service after only two years of operation. After the 1960’s the railway was abandoned for years until 1972 when the city purchased the land in order to create a park.

Kay Gardner and her husband Raymond, moved to North Toronto in 1961. Since then, Miss Gardner worked as a citizen volunteer and then as a City Councillor for her community.Kay Gardner was the driving force behind the City's acquisition of these Beltline lands and their conversion to a 4.5-kilometer long linear park.  In recognition of her vision and commitment to people and community, this park was renamed to "Kay Gardner Beltline Park".

Recreation

The Kay Gardner Beltline is a really interesting park with trails perfect for walking or roller blading. It is a place to smell flowers, watch birds and ride a bike - a place in the heart of the city to escape the city. It also overlooks the backyards of the Forest Hill neighbourhood – one of the richest neighbourhoods in Toronto. The park is also great for kids as there is a playground.

Did You Know? The stuff on the ground of the playground looks like gravel, but is actually recycled rubber!

Grange Park

Grange Park is a prominent public park in downtown Toronto, situated just south of the Art Gallery of Ontario, beside the Ontario College of Art and Design University (OCADU). The Park lends its name to the Grange Park neighbourhood in the vicinity of the park. The park is actually owned by the AGO, but is run by Toronto Parks and Recreation.

Recreational activities at the park include a wading pool turned natural ice rink in the winter, a children's playground, and numerous paths for walking or jogging. 


Park’s History
Park was originally a part of estate built by Boulton family in 1820. The Boulton family played an influential role in developing young city of Toronto. Park had paths that were utilized by carriages as means of getting to an estate. These parks remain today as a testament to the heritage. In 1910, Harriette Boulton Smith bequeathed The Grange house and estate to the newly founded Art Gallery of Toronto, for the purposes of building an art museum on the property.

The park currently is undergoing some debates in regards to its proximity to Butterfield Park. The two parks are separated by a fence and debates are under way whether or not to open up this fence and increase traffic as well as build a basketball court. As a result of the debated, the Grange Park Advisory Committee (GPAC) was established. The goal of GPAC is to create a great city and neighbourhood park, and capitalize on projects aimed at the restoration and revitalization of Grange Park, and to advise on an oversight structure for the on-going maintenance. Another focus of the committee is to examine ecological health of the park. Below are are some responsibilities and roles as directly stated by GPAC.

Responsibilities

• Advise on a restoration and revitalization plan for Grange Park that will be green, strikingly beautiful, resilient, sustainable, accessible, interactive as well as providing a place for contemplation while welcoming all neighbours, residents and visitors to our community by utilizing design excellence, state of the art conservation techniques and outstanding works of art.

• Advise on an ongoing structure after the initial project to ensure that Grange Park is sustained at a consistently high level: well-tended, healthy lawns, shrubs and trees, gardens; well maintained park furniture and works of art; active program of recreational and community activities; and a safe environment especially for children, seniors and people with disabilities; pay tribute to the unique ethno-racial heritage in the community; utilize water features in park amenities.

Roles

• As the Institutional advocate for the Grange Park Project, the AGO will be financially and legally accountable for the project.
• Facilitate the work of the Grange Park Project Committee
• Administer GPP funds including fundraising and the establishment of an endowment fund for ongoing maintenance.

Vision for Grange Park: “To undertake a restoration and revitalization plan that will make Grange Park green, strikingly beautiful, resilient, sustainable and accessible. To create a park that is interactive as well as a place for contemplation.To create a park that welcomes all neighbours, residents and visitors to our community by utilizing design excellence, state of the art conservation techniques and outstanding works of art.”

To learn more about the park and how to get involved in its greening initiative go to http://grangeparktoronto.ca/

Guildwood Park

Guildwood Park is one of the hidden gems situated at the edge of the city. Located to the eastern edges of Toronto’s lakeshore at 20 Guildwood Parkway, this park is just as much a historical museum as it is a green haven. The park features mature forests, serene walking trails, and historic stone sculptures and arches.

Guildwood Park has been a haven for the arts since 1932 for more than 100 artists and their families to live and work. The private residence was owned by the Clark family however was converted into a base for the woman’s royal navy during the Second World War. The property was returned to the family after the war was over.

Things to do in March: The park has two winding nature trails to suit the needs of various hikers. The first is not for the faint of heart, and makes for a physically active adventure. The trail winds along the lake over the cliffs edge, which makes for breathtaking views and picture perfect scenery. The second is for those who may want to take a shorter and less physically demanding trip, which winds through the forest towards the Guild Inn.

Guildwood Park is more or less a photographers dream. Aside from the amazing scenic views, the park features a vast array of historical artifacts, including a greek style amphitheater, with columns taken from the first Bank of Canada building in Toronto. You can also see an old log cabin dating back to 1795, with a slab of decorative concrete beside it taken from what once was the tallest skyscraper in the British Empire in 1895. The building was at the corner of Toronto’s very own Bay and Richmond! 

Guildwood Park is also a major destination for weddings and other major events. So if wedding crashing is your thing, you know where to go!