Parkdale

Parkdale’s eclectic mix of real estate options ranges from grand Victorian mansions to high-rise low rent apartment buildings. This plethora of housing options has resulted in Parkdale having one of the most diverse demographics of any Toronto neighbourhood.
The Parkdale Community Watch recently received an award as the best neighbourhood watch group. This award was presented by the International Society of Crime Prevention.
The Parkdale neighbourhood possesses many positive attributes. It has some of Toronto’s most vibrant shopping districts, wonderful tree lined streets, affordable Victorian homes, and impressive mansions that remind onlookers that Parkdale was once Toronto’s wealthiest district. Parkdale is also within walking distance of Toronto’s waterfront parks.
The following article is courtesy of
TorontoNeighbourhoodNews.com
Faces in the crowd
Jameson Avenue in West Toronto stretches from the pedestrian walkway at Lakeshore Blvd. to the hustle and bustle of Queen Street West. It’s a wide boulevard lined with walk-up and high-rise apartment buildings. Parkdale Collegiate, one of Toronto’s oldest high schools, is located along this route.
The wide, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks are lined with street planters designed to enhance the streetscape and return Jameson Avenue to the prominence it enjoyed from the mid-1800s to early 1900s, when Parkdale was one of Toronto’s elite neighbourhoods.
The street planters — over 70 of them — were recently enhanced with over 560 photographs imprinted on their concrete bases. These include black-and-white photos of past and current residents, as well as archival images from the neighbourhood.
This project, known as Impressions, is one of North America’s largest outdoor street photo installations. This street gallery was created by artist Jim Bravo and photographer Kate Young, with enthusiastic participation from local residents. Impressions was coordinated by Mural Routes, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to enhancing communities through public art murals. Support was also provided by the city of Toronto Public Realm Section – Transportation Services. The featured photos are lively and entertaining and bring a sense of community to the streetscape. It is this type of initiative that is helping to revitalize the Parkdale neighbourhood.
Concrete planters that line the streets of Parkdale now feature photos of the neighbourhood and its residents.
 
 

 
 
Parkdale’s history began in the late 1800’s when it was an elite residential suburb, that rivaled Rosedale as Toronto’s most desirable address. Parkdale’s popularity led to its incorporation as a village in 1878. Then in 1889, after many heated public debates, Parkdale’s citizens voted in favour of amalgamation with the City of Toronto.

Parkdale, became Toronto’s playground by the lake in 1922, when the Sunnyside Amusement Park and Bathing Pavilion opened for business on Parkdale’s beaches. Sunnyside was the place to be and be seen for a generation of Torontonians.
In 1956, Sunnyside was shut down by the city in order to make room for the Gardiner Expressway and a revamped Lake Shore Boulevard. Unfortunately, these new expressways cut Parkdale off from the lake and its glorious past. Parkdale then went into a period of decline. At present Parkdale is once again emerging as a prominent Toronto neighbourhood and a new chapter in the history of this grand old neighbourhood is being written.
 
 
 

 
South Parkdale’s grandiose mansions were built between 1875 and 1895. Some of these houses have been converted into bachelorettes or rooming houses however the current by laws advocate restoring these houses to single family use.
The houses in the north end of Parkdale, above Queen Street, are more modest than their South Parkdale counterparts, but are no less charming. These houses were built between 1900 and 1910.
 
 

 
 
The main commercial shopping area in Parkdale has historically been on Queen Street. This vibrant shopping district seems to be in a state of perpetual activity; it includes an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants.
The Roncesvalles Village shopping district, north of Queen Street, is the cultural centre of Toronto’s Polish community. There are many outstanding food markets, delis, and restaurants along this route.
 
 
 

 
Parkdale is conveniently located within walking distance of High Park and the recreational paths and parks along Toronto’s waterfront.
Parkdale has four community centres that serve the residents of this neighbourhood. They include Holy Family Community Centre on Close Avenue, Masryk-Cowan Community Recreation Centre on Cowan Avenue, McCormick Recreation Centre on Sheridan Avenue, and the Parkdale Community Centre on West Lodge Avenue.
The Parkdale Public Library on Queen Street and the High Park Public Library on Roncesvalles, both provide programming for Parkdale residents.
 
 

 
 
Streetcar service on Queen Street, King Street, Dundas Street, Roncessvales Avenue, and Macdonell Avenue, connect passengers to the downtown, or to subway stations on the Bloor-Danforth subway line.
Motorists are just minutes from downtown. There is direct access to both the Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard, at the south end of Parkdale.


 
 
 

 

Queen Victoria Public School (GR. JK-08)
100 Close Ave, Toronto, ON  M6K 2V3
//schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/queenvictoria
Parkdale Collegiate Institute (GR. 09-12)
209 Jameson Ave, Toronto, ON  M6K 2Y3
//schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/parkdale/
Central Technical School (GR. 09-12)
725 Bathurst St, Toronto, ON M5S 2R5
//schools.tdsb.on.ca/centraltech/
Western Technical-Commercial School (GR. 09-12)
125 Evelyn Cres, Toronto, ON M6P 3E3
//www.wtcs.ca/
Karin Kain School of Arts (Gr 6 – 8)
60 Berl Ave Etobicoke, ON   M8Y 3C7
//schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/karenkain/Home.aspx
Etobicoke School of the Arts (Gr 9 – 12)
675 Royal York Rd Toronto, ON M8Y 2T1
//www.esainfo.ca/

Holy Family Catholic School (GR. JK – 8)
141 Close Avenue Toronto, ON M6K 2V6
//www.tcdsb.org/schools/holyfamily/Pages/default.aspx
Holy Rosary Catholic School (GR. 1 – 3) – French Immersion
308 Tweedsmuir Avenue Toronto, ON M5P 2Y1
//www.tcdsb.org/schools/holyrosary/Pages/default.aspx
St Cecilia (Gr 4 – 6) – French Immersion 
355 Annette St Toronto, ON M6P 1R3
//stcecilia.tcdsb.org/
St. Vincent de Paul Catholic School (Gr 5 – 8) French Immersion
116 Fermanagh Avenue Toronto, ON M6R 1M2
//www.tcdsb.org/schools/stvincentdepaul/Pages/default.aspx
St Josaphat – Eastern Rite (Gr JK – 08)
24 Tenth St Toronto, ON M8V 3G1
//www.tcdsb.org/schools/stjosaphat/Pages/default.aspx
St Mary Catholic Academy (Gr 9 – 12)
66 Dufferin Park Avenue Toronto, ON M6H 1J6
//stmarycatholicacademy.tcdsb.org/
Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton – Regional Arts Centre (Gr 9 – 12)
1515 Bloor Street West Toronto, ON M6P 1A3
//www.tcdsb.org/schools/bishopmarroccothomasmerton/Pages/Default.aspx