The HIGH PARK neighbourhood contains a wealth of history. The area north of Bloor Street was formerly part of the Town of West Toronto Junction, which was annexed by the City of Toronto in 1909.The High Park property south of Bloor Street was purchased in 1836 by John Howard, Toronto's first surveyor. Howard named his estate High Park because of its magnificent view of Lake Ontario. He became a great benefactor to the City when he gave it his vast estate and his home, Colborne Lodge, in 1873.
Roncesvalles Street
In 1873 Howard deeded his beloved High Park estate to the City of Toronto. John Howard's former residence Colborne Lodge, is still situated on its original site in High Park, where it is now a museum. The High Park neighbourhood's highly regarded schools, including Humberside Collegiate, attract many families with school age children to this neighbourhood.
The topography of High Park features gently rolling hills, winding streets, and towering oak trees that enchant and delight all those who live here. This theme of natural beauty is anchored by High Park, which adds incalculable value to the homes for at least half a dozen blocks in every direction. The city's largest cultivated green space, the Park includes 399 acres of picnic grounds, playgrounds, flower gardens, Grenadier pond, animal paddocks, restaurant, and many other diversions, making it one of Toronto's largest and most popular parks. High Park's sports facilities include tennis, baseball, soccer, lawn bowling, swimming, and skating, as well as walking, jogging and cycling paths found throughout the park.
Other parks easily accessible to neighbourhood residents include:
- Etienne Brule Park
- Rennie Park
- Earlscourt Park
High Park Homes 1
High Park's winding tree-lined streets are lined with impressive Victorian, Edwardian, and Tudor-style homes. These captivating houses were built largely during the late 1800's and early 1900's, and some have been divided into multiple-family dwellings.
A great place to raise children, acclaimed public schools in the district include:
- Keele St. Jr & City Community Centre School
- Indian Road Crescent Jr. School
- Annette St. Jr. & Sr. School
- Perth Avenue Jr. School
- Humberside Collegiate Institute
- West Toronto Collegiate Institute
- Bloor Collegiate Institute
- Runnymede Collegiate Institute
- Kent Sr. School
- Western Technical-Commercial School
As well as a host of separate and private schools.
High Park's distinctive brick homes feature a variety of architectural details that vary from house to house, such as leaded and stained glass windows, lush wood trims, French doors, hardwood floors and fireplaces. A selection of condo buildings along Quebec Avenue, north of Bloor Street, include balconies, some of which feature south views that overlook High Park and Lake Ontario.
High Park is conveniently located within walking distance of 'Bloor West Village', one of Toronto's most popular shopping districts. The 'Village' is known across the City for its European bakeries, delicatessens, specialty food shops, cafes and restaurants. High Park's other major shopping area is the 'Junction Gardens', along Dundas Street West, a revitalized retail district with grocery shopping, restaurants, pubs & professional services.
High Park Homes 2
The Runnymede Public Library at 2178 Bloor Street West and the High Park Public Library at 228 Roncesvalles Avenue both offer a myriad of programs for neighbourhood residents. Other easily accessible libraries include:
- Swansea Memorial, 95 Lavinia
- Annette Branch, 145 Annette
- Parkdale, 1303 Queen W
There is much to do for the whole family in High Park. Popular community/recreation centres include:
- Masaryk-Cowan Community Centre, 220 Cowan
- Parkdale Community Centre, 75 Lansdowne
- Holy Family Community Centre, 141 Close
The Bloor-Danforth subway line has three stations serving the High Park neighbourhood including the Runnymede, High Park, and Keele stations. Most residents are within walking distance of one or more of these three stations.
Motorists are approximately five minutes from the Queensway, which connects commuters to Lake Shore Boulevard and the Gardiner Expressway, and a ten-to-fifteen minute drive downtown.
