When it comes to Toronto Sun readers' favourite park in Toronto, there's nothing quite like High Park in the city's west end. Coming in at No. 1 in the latest Top 5 readers poll, High Park is famously where thousands of people flock to see cherry blossom trees at the beginning of May. However, it's so much more.
1. High Park
This 400-acre park – described as "a jewel in the city's park system" by the city – is Toronto's largest urban park and remains about two-thirds in a natural state. Visitors can enjoy a nice long walk, check out Grenadier Pond, or just be at one with Mother Nature. There's also High Park Zoo, an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts, a dog off-leash area, and multiple playgrounds, plus Shakespeare in High Park at the outdoor amphitheatre. A cool fact: It was so named because it's the highest point in the area.
2. Rouge National Urban Park
There's having a wild life or checking out the wildlife. As one of North America's largest urban parks at 19,500 acres, this federal park – technically in Markham with some lands committed by Toronto to Parks Canada – is home to 44 mammal species, 247 bird species, 27 reptile and amphibian species, and 73 fish species. Centred around the Rouge River and its tributaries in the Greater Toronto Area, there's also forests, creeks, farms and trails as well as marshland and a beach on Lake Ontario. It offers a heck of a day or two in nature.
3. Toronto Island Park – Olympic Island
If you've ever wanted to leave Toronto without much effort, there's always this park on Olympic Island, just a 15-minute ferry ride from downtown. The park can be accessed via two bridges: One just east of the Centre Island Ferry Dock and the other by the Centreville train station, with unbeatable Toronto skyline views, places to have picnics, a large open green space, and the open-air Lagoon theatre. Serenity now!
4. Trinity Bellwoods Park
This park is often called hipster park due to its close vicinity to Queen St. W., where alcohol is permitted, and it is home to white squirrels, the subject of urban folklore. Treble Charger even wrote a song called Trinity Bellwoods, which was on their debut album. That doesn't mean people aren't active here. The park houses three ball diamonds, eight tennis courts, two volleyball courts, a dog off-leash area, a picnic area, a wading pool, and a children's playground. There's also the Trinity Community Recreation Centre and an outdoor artificial ice rink. The most significant reminder of the former site of Trinity College, circa 1852, are the white stone gates at the Queen St. park entrance facing south to Strachan Ave.
5. Edwards Gardens
This site of the Toronto Botanical Garden – a private not-for-profit organization – is located on the southwest corner of Leslie St. and Lawrence Ave. E. A former estate garden with a mix of perennials, roses and wildflowers, rhododendrons and rockery, the TBG offers programs, garden tours, nature day camps, spaces to book, field trips, and an extensive horticultural library.
High Park remains the quintessential Toronto park, beloved for its cherry blossoms and diverse attractions, but the other top parks offer unique experiences from wildlife to skyline views.
