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!

The Don Valley Brick Works Park

Do you enjoy a natural habitat full with history and interesting facts? If so then this is a place you must visit! Located in the Don Valley, The Brick Works is an internationally significant natural and cultural heritage site located within the Don River watershed. The 16.5 (40.7 acre) site is open for public use, education and enjoyment. The park is also known for its hills with exceptional city views.

History

The lower Don has held an important role in the region's history as a place of settlement, agriculture and industry. It became a productive industrial area, valuable for its employment and the goods and services created there. By the late 1800s, improved transportation and abundant resources like water and clay had attracted manufacturers of paper, bricks and beer. Circa 1889 , the Don Valley Pressed Brick Works Company, one of Canada's biggest brickyards, operated at the site where it produced bricks that were used for some of the city's best-known buildings (Hart House, Casa Loma, and Old City Hall, among others). In 1995  the park became a public space, and restoration of the site began. The old quarry has been transformed into a nature park featuring a wild-flower meadow and wetlands, and scenic city views.

Did you know ?

Don Valley Brick Works Park is one of the most important geological sites in North America: the layers of sedimentary rock found in the quarry walls help scientists study the Ice Age, the environment and climate change.

 Evergreen CityWorks

Transforming the urban landscape demands more than isolated problem-solving; it requires innovation and collaboration among diverse sectors. It also requires awareness of the interconnectedness of city infrastructure and systems—from green buildings and sustainable transportation to food, energy, water and waste systems. Evergreen CityWorks will share ideas, engage public and devise a broad range of sustainability solutions.

Get involved in the Brickworks community!

Help create a healthy sustainable future by joining in with the park's initiatives. Get your hands dirty at weekly gardening and stewardship events where you can help growing plants to be later sold at a farmers market. You can also partake in fun activities and events that connect nature and community.

Things to do in March

Explore Singns of Spring from March 11 to March 15, attend a site tour on March 16 and March 17, or come out to the Tastings of Evergreen Farmers Market on March 16.

To find out more about the park visit http://ebw.evergreen.ca/

Eglinton Park

Eglinton Park is situated in Toronto’s Uptown, on Eglinton Avenue between Dupex and Avenue Roads. The park can be reached by a short 10 minute walk from Eglinton subway station – skip the bus ride, use your feet! 

Recreational activities: two baseball diamonds, a soccer field, splash pool and outdoor tennis courts turned to skating rinks in the summer. Fun Fact: the park was originally a Pears Brickyard established in 1885 as a brick manufacturer. The park was then purchased by the City of Toronto in the early 90’s. It’s rectangular shape and valley location are a typical characteristic of Toronto’s parks that used to be brick manufactures.

The Naturalization Project

The project involves a restoration of park’s west slope to its native habitat. The project is a collaboration between North Toronto Green Community, Greenest City, the Evergreen Foundation, and the City of Toronto's Parks and Recreation. It involves replanting trees and shrubs to provide shade, a natural landscape and a habitat for birds and small animals, and create a healthy urban environment.

The Heritage Community Garden

"Human health and environmental health are intimately linked". Engaging in organic gardening and taking care of a lawns are fundamental steps in making the world a better place for both humans and environment. The gardening activity relives stress on the earth, hence the Heritage Community Garden initiative has been started. Seeds of Diversity Canada and the Garden Committee of the North Toronto Green Community brought this project to life in partnership with Toronto Parks and Recreation with help and encouragement from FoodShare, Martin Wade Landscape Architects and countless volunteers. The garden has come to mean many things to many people: a "hands-on" gardening experience for urban dwellers, an educational experience, and a lovely spot to rest and relax in the park with a riot of colour and a host of plant species to please and interest viewers. Those  who got involved learned more about organic gardening, heritage seeds and composting to provide chemical-free nutrients for the soil.

To find out more information or how to get involved in these projects go to http://www.lostrivers.ca/points/egltnparkkpjts.htm#nature