Parkdale

Parkdale offers an eclectic mix of real estate, ranging from grand Victorian mansions to high-rise, low-rent apartment buildings. This variety has cultivated one of the most diverse demographics in any Toronto neighborhood. Recently, the Parkdale Community Watch received an award from the International Society of Crime Prevention, recognizing it as the best neighborhood watch group. Parkdale boasts many positive attributes, including vibrant shopping districts, beautiful tree-lined streets, Victorian homes, and impressive mansions that hint at its past as Toronto’s wealthiest district.

History

Parkdale's history began in the late 1800s when it was an elite residential suburb rivaling Rosedale as Toronto’s most desirable area. Its popularity led to its incorporation as a village in 1878. In 1889, after heated public debates, Parkdale’s citizens voted to amalgamate with the City of Toronto. Parkdale became Toronto’s playground by the lake in 1922 with the opening of Sunnyside Amusement Park and Bathing Pavilion on Parkdale’s beaches. Sunnyside was the place to be for a generation of Torontonians. However, in 1956, Sunnyside was closed to make way for the Gardiner Expressway and a revamped Lake Shore Boulevard. These new expressways unfortunately cut Parkdale off from the lake, leading to a period of decline. Today, Parkdale is reemerging as a prominent Toronto neighborhood, writing a new chapter in its storied history.

    • North: Bloor Street West

    • East: Dufferin Avenue

    • South: Lake Ontario

    • West: Roncesvalles Avenue

  • South Parkdale’s grandiose mansions, built between 1875 and 1895, stand as architectural marvels. While some have been converted into bachelor apartments or rooming houses, current bylaws encourage their restoration to single-family homes. The houses in the northern part of Parkdale, above Queen Street, are more modest but equally charming, constructed between 1900 and 1910.

    • K-8

      • Dr Rita Cox - Kina Minogok Public School

      • Parkdale Junior and Senior Public School

      • Holy Family Catholic School

    • Grade 9-12

      • Parkdale Collegiate Institute

  • In the 1960s and 1970s, Parkdale became a focal point for the counterculture and arts scene in Toronto. Many artists, musicians, and writers were drawn to the affordable housing and bohemian atmosphere of the neighborhood.

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