High Park

The Origins of the High Park Neighbourhood
The High Park neighbourhood was purchased by John Howard in 1836. John Howard was Toronto’s first surveyor, and he named the area High Park because of its excellent view of Lake Ontario.

High Park During Fall

Soon after (in the early 1900’s), the High Park neighbourhood joined the City of Toronto. John Howard’s former residence, known as the Colborne Lodge, is still situated on its original site in High Park. The the Colborne Lodge is now a museum to show residents the history of High Park.

High Park is well known for it’s beautiful landscape, and is one of the only area in Toronto where you’ll find gentle hills, winding streets, and huge oak trees that line the streets. It provides a natural beauty that really defines the neighbourhood.

High Park is also home of Toronto’s largest park, with just under 400 acres of green space. You can enjoy a full day at the park alone! You can enjoy the great outdoors, doing whatever you like; whether it’s enjoying a picnic, or viewing the flower gardens, ponds, and paddocks. Which ever you like may prefer, you won’t starve with the variety of restaurants to choose from! You can work off the meal with a walk, jog, or even cycle throughout the paths found around the park. If you prefer sports, then you can check out the High Park’s sports facilities which include: tennis, baseball, soccer, lawn bowling, swimming, and skating.

The High Park Maple Leaf

High Park offers not only winding tree-lined streets, but you can also find impressive Victorian, Edwardian, and Tudor-style homes! These large homes were built in the early 1900’s, have been divided into multiple-family dwellings for today’s residence.

The distinctive brick homes in High Park feature a variety of details from home to home. Throughout High Park you’ll see homes with the following features: leaded and/or stained glass windows, lush wood trims, French doors, hardwood floors, fireplaces, and balconies (some with views directly over the park, and Lake Ontario).

The neighbourhood has plenty of schools and educational opportunities. You can find the following :

• Public elementary school

• Catholic elementary school

• Private school

• Public secondary school

• College & University

High Park doesn’t have any large shopping districts directly in the neighbourhood.However it is bounded on it’s eastern side by Roncesvalles Village with it’s eastern European feel.  Most of the locals head to Roncesvalles after walking their dogs in High Park for a well deserved cup of coffee.

Bloor West Village has one of the most popular shopping districts in Toronto, and it’s within walking distance! The village is known for it’s assortment of European bakeries, delicatessens, specialty food shops, cafes and restaurants. Also along  the northern tip of High Park is the area known as  The Junction  or Junction Gardens, you can find another great retail district with grocery shops, restaurants, pubs & other professional services available.

High Park Residential Area

High Park offers a lot for the local residents to keep busy. Some popular community activities/services you can find in High Park include: three public libraries, three recreation centres, three subway stations, and of course you can visit the park!

Toronto’s High Park neighbourhood offers impressive Victorian, Edwardian, and Tudor-style homes, accompanied by beautiful gentle hills, winding streets, and huge oak trees that line the streets. In the early 1900’s, the High Park neighbourhood joined the City of Toronto, and it’s been a prosperous Toronto neighbourhood ever since. If it’s not the largest park in Toronto, that attracts you to High Park, then it might be the beautiful brick homes with a variety of details, or even the variety of education opportunities that High Park offers. High Park is one of the best places to reside in all of Toronto.

Other West Toronto Neighbourhoods: Roncesvalles Village –High park –