Bridle Path

The Origins and Development of Bridle Path

The history of Bridle Path goes back to when Alexander Milne first settled here in the year 1827. Mr. Milne constructed  wool and saw mills along the side of Wilket Creek. He continued doing this until year 1832, which is when the low water supply forced Mr. Milne to move east along Don River.

From the year 1832 until 1929 (almost 100 years) the area was considered nothing more than farm land. However in 1929, that changed when the Bayview Bridge was built over the steep Don River Valley. This is when the area was first considered for residential developments.

In the same year, Hubert Daniel Bull Page (a skilled land developer at the time) registered plans for subdivision, and began building the first house in the Bridle Path neighbourhood to try and spark interest in his new subdivision. Mr. Page planned for Bridle Path to be an exclusive enclave of highly valued real estate.

In the early developments of the Bridle Path neighbourhood, Mr. Page had decided to only allow bridle paths (or horse paths) throughout the neighbourhood. However, it didn’t take long for the paths to be paved over, but the unique idea is forever preserved in the name of the neighbourhood!

Today, the Bridle Path neighbourhood is as exclusive as it was planned to be. The neighbourhood offers highly valued Toronto real estate, convenient access to local shopping, plenty of recreational activities and green space, well respected public, catholic, and private schools, and quick public transportation to anywhere in Toronto!

Real estate in the Bridle Path neighbourhood is marketed towards the affluent. In fact, the neighbourhood is referred to as the “Millionaires Row”, and it lives up to that name today because there isn’t one house in the neighbourhood worth under one million dollars! These mansions are some of the largest real estate located in Toronto. Real estate in Bridle Path features:

●       One to six acre properties

●       Stone and cast iron gateways

●       Elaborate built-in security systems

●       Nice mix of architectural styles, including: Georgian, Colonial, Greek and Tudor Revival, Italianate, Neo Gothic, and even California.

●       Gold fixtures

●       Marble finishes on dance floor

●       Sauna

●       Personal gym

●       Home theatre

●       Most homes have one or more of the following: pool, tennis court, gazebo and cabana, greenhouse, and/or waterfall.

These enormous homes were mainly built between the 1930’s and 1960’s, which is why there’s such a large mix of architectural styles found in Bridle Path. There’s also an exclusive luxury condominium with 42 units available, all of which have private elevator access.

Shopping in Bridle Path is mainly done at the York Mills Plaza. The York Mills Plaza is located at south-west corner of Bayview Avenue. This shopping district features:

●       Many fine wineries

●       Cigar shops filled with imported and local cigars

●       Rich chocolate and dessert shops

●       Designer stores

●       Coffee shops

●       Fancy restaurants

York Mills Plaza will be able to take care of you day to day needs, however for grocery shopping you’ll have to travel a little further.

Recreational activities in Bridle Path mainly take place at Sunnybrook Park, which features: multiple sport fields for cricket, field hockey, rugby, soccer, and it also has horse riding stables that offer lessons to the public. Another local favorite place for recreational activities is Edwards Gardens. Enjoy great outdoor scenery such as: rockeries, perennial gardens, a pond, waterfalls, and a rose garden. Edwards Gardens is also the beginning of a nine kilometre trail, which is great for hiking, walking, jogging, or biking!

Local schools found in the Bridle Path neighbourhood are highly respected. You can choose from:

●       one public elementary school

●       one public secondary school

●       one catholic school

●       four private schools

Depending on your families education levels, you’ll be sure to find the right school for you and your family.

Public transportation in Bridle Path is offered by bus. The bus service connects to the subway station, to decrease transit times throughout Toronto. From Bridle Path it takes approximately 20 minutes to get to Toronto’s business and entertainment districts, and it takes approximately 5 minutes to get to Toronto’s 401 highways.