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The Parks of Yonge Street

This page complements "The Underground Underground".

I live just off Yonge Street, south of Bloor; in my perambulations I spot many small parks, sometimes called parkettes, where one may sit on a bench under a shady tree on a hot day.

This page lists the parks I have discovered; it is not an exhaustive list of parks, nor does it recommend any parks. You take them as you find them and, if you are a good citizen, you'll tidy up after the slobs who leave their litter for fine people to pick up.

The photos are not wallpaper-quality; their small size is designed for fast loading, and each photo serves only to identify the surroundings.

I have arranged the locations in sequence walking south from Bloor Street; no park is more than 200 steps from either side of Yonge street.

Lest you think that trees are a rarity in Toronto, above are two photos taken from the 5th floor of the Toronto reference Library, looking north-west. Toronto is a city of trees.

I am happy to receive comments, corrections and omissions.

673 Yonge Street (Charles)

George Hislop Parkette

639 Yonge Street (St Marys/Isabella)

Norman Hewison Parkette

601 Yonge Street (Gloucester)

James Cannon Parkette

587 Yonge Street (Dundonald)

528 Yonge Street (Breadalbane/Maitland)

This park lies to the west of the YMCA building, which lies between Breadalbane and Grosvenor streets, immediately to the west of the red-brick YMCA building.

471 Yonge Street (East of Church and Wood)

This playground is more than my usual distance from Yonge street. I've included it for those who have small children who need to burn off energy.

The property is private, being a school playground, but I suspect authorities won't mind its use by supervised children when the school is not in session.

A somewhat unflattering shot; the camera view is to the north-east.

I swung around and aimed south-west. The large yellow-brick building is the Loblaws supermarket, was the old maple leaf gardens.

424/444 Yonge Street

The park is behind the College Park (and shops) building. It is also accessible on exiting the subway system (walk past the lower-level Metro supermarket),

415/429 Yonge Street

This park lies between McGill street and Gerrard, but be warned that McGill does not push through to Yonge street as a paved street. Look for the old "McGill Arch", about twelve feet high straddling the footpath on the east side of Yonge street.

329 Yonge Street (at Walton)

This little park can be accessed from Yonge Street or from the southern foot-ramp into the Delta Chelsea hotel.

Allen Gardens

This large park is well to the east of Yonge street, but it does have a greenhouse, is a large park, and is worth the short walk for the sake of watching other park-players, or just admiring the large trees.

From Gerrard and George streets, looking north-east.

From Gerrard and George streets, looking east.

Looking north-west towards the greenhouse.

The view from Carlton and Sherborne, looking south west. That's the Best Western "Primrose" hotel looming in the background.

737 ??? Yonge Street at Temperance street

Cloud Gardens is a small aprk with stone benches under the deep shade of tress on its western side.

This view is from the north-east corner looking south-west towards the shade.

This is the view from Temperance Street

And here is the view across Yonge Street; Cloud Gardens is about fifty yards behind me, to the west of where I stand.

Here is a view from the south-west corner on Temperance Street

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7092187927 CPRGreaves@gmail.com

Bonavista, Wednesday, June 03, 2020 10:18 AM

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