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GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: How do our parks measure up? (Aug. 2025)

September 29th, 2025 · No Comments

Part 2 of grading our greenspaces

Each year the Annex Gleaner reviews the many parks and parkettes in our coverage area using a variety of criteria. While there is no decisive “winner” of the grading, letter grades are assigned to convey the quality of the parks, considering aspects such as upkeep, design, and amenities. The reviews accompanying the grades also let the reader know what makes each space unique. This is the second instalment of reviews for 2025.

Reviewed and compiled by Abigail Harris except where noted by Drew Glennie

Healy Willian is an ideal destination for young parkgoers.

Healey Willan Park 
50 Sussex Ave.
Time of visit: 1:30 p.m.
Grade: A (last year’s grade: B+)
Reason to go: Healey Willan Park, located at Euclid Avenue near Harbord Street, is an excellent greenspace for younger parkgoers. One of its most exciting features is the sandy playground area that includes a plethora of shared toys. In addition, there’s a lush children’s learning garden in the corner of the park and a wading pool for hot summer days. It’s a great spot to pair with a visit to Margaret Fairley Park which also boasts an impressive supply of children’s toys and is only a 10-minute walk east.  There’s plenty of shade and benches around the perimeter of the park. The park’s residential location in Palmerston-Little Italy makes for a peaceful, uninterrupted atmosphere. 
Overheard: A dog chasing after a deflated soccer ball it’s owner just kicked.
Did you know? Healey Willan was a celebrated Canadian organist and composer. For over 45 years, he served as the choir master of the Church of St. Mary Magdalene which is right next to the park.

Euclid Avenue Parkette
By Drew Glennie
711 Euclid Ave. 
Time of visit:  12:57 p.m.
Grade: F (last year’s Grade: D-)
Reason to go: Euclid Avenue Parkette is at best a desire path and at worst an abandoned lot. The grass is sparse and yellowed, and it has begun to spread onto the rocky trail (and, in other areas of the path, vice versa). Signs and trash cans are covered in graffiti. Trash is strewn about, and not just food containers, cutlery, and straws, but also unbelievably a computer keyboard hidden in the shrubbery. There are three benches lining the walkway, but the tree canopy is so sparse that it does not provide adequate shade; plus, unlike other parkettes in the area, Euclid is too far from the main strip of Bloor to provide a convenient respite.
Overheard: Folks helping a driver navigate the small back parking lot of the neighbouring Palmerston library branch.
Did you know? The tree at the center of the parkette is not a willow but just a drooping ash.

Huron Street Playground
495 Huron St.
Time of visit: 11:27 a.m.
Grade: A- (Last year’s grade: A-)
Reason to go: Huron Street Playground offers a versatile park experience for a variety of folks. A renovation in recent years added a small off-leash dog area with artificial turf, making it perfect for dog owners. A rope play structure, sandpit, artificial rock, and swing set provide a modest selection of entertainment for younger guests. The greenspace is nicely shaded with some picnic tables and benches to relax on while you watch your little ones play. Unfortunately, noise surrounding the park seems to be a constant, especially given the park’s proximity to Bloor Street West. Two towering apartment buildings line the perimeter, providing shade and a sense of privacy which is a plus. 
Overheard: A parking enforcement officer rides by on his bike surveying for violations. 
Did you know: Huron Street is named after the Wendat people who were given the name Huron by the French.  

Philosopher’s Walk
78 Queen’s Park Cres. 
Time of visit: 1:57 p.m.
Grade: A+ (Last year’s grade: A+)
Reason to go: Nestled between The Royal Conservatory and The Royal Ontario Museum, Philosopher’s Walk is a beautiful footpath located in the city’s core. When entering the park through the northern entrance on Bloor Street West, you are welcomed by the Queen Alexandra Gates. They were donated to the city in 1901 to commemorate a visit from the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall. The path is lined by spruce trees and benches that make it the perfect spot to take a break from the busy city streets. The park’s topography includes dips and valleys which serve as a reminder of the historical Taddle Creek which was buried in the 1880s. 
Overheard: Two mothers walk by, and one asks, “Do your kids get enough sleep?” 
Did you know? In the 1860s, the portion of Taddle Creek that flowed through the University of Toronto was dammed to create McCaul’s pond. It was a popular spot among students until it was covered in 1884.  

Queen’s Park North
47 Queen’s Park Cres. 
Time of visit: 12:48 p.m.
Grade: A (Last year’s grade: A)
Reason to go: Queen’s Park North is one of those places every Torontonian should visit at least once. The main spectacle here is an imposing equestrian statue of King Edward VII who opened Queen’s Park in 1860 when he was the Prince of Wales. Benches encircle the statue where you can sit and observe tourists and locals taking pictures with the monument. At the north end of the park is the 48th Highlanders Regimental Memorial which was erected in 1923 in memory of those in the 48th Highlander Regiment who lost their lives in the First World War. But the park has more to offer than just history. Tree fanatics will enjoy this greenspace, and there’s an infographic along the path that shows the variety of common Toronto trees you can find in the park, from Norway maples to Austrian pines. If you feel up to it, you can try to track down all 12 variety of trees in the park. 
Overheard: “Get closer than that!” says a visitor taking a picture next to the statue of King Edward VII.
Did you know?  Established in 1860, Queen’s Park is one of the oldest urban parks in Canada. 

Queen’s Park is a must-see spot in the city core that’s rich with history.

Queen’s Park
110 Wellesley St. W.
Time of visit: 1:37 p.m. 
Grade: A+ (Last year’s grade: A)
Reason to go: Home to the Ontario legislature, Queen’s Park is another must-see park in the city core. You can choose to admire the stately Romanesque Revival architecture from a distance or book a free guided tour of the building online. Tours run every 30 minutes.  The greenspace is home to 38 plaques and monuments, all central to Canadian history.  A legend at the south end of the park shows you where to find them. The front entrance of the building is framed by two statues. One is Queen Elizabeth II, and the other is John Sandfield Macdonald, Ontario’s first premier. The landscaping is beautiful, and there are some lovely shaded areas which make the park not only a historical landmark but a great spot for a picnic. 
Overheard: “Excuse me, do you know where the John A. Macdonald statue is?”
Did you know? This park is home to several eastern white pines which were declared Ontario’s official tree in 1984. 

Taddle Creek Park
40 Bedford Rd.
Time of visit: 12:14 p.m.
Grade: A (Last year’s grade: A)
Reason to go: The picturesque Taddle Creek Park is in the heart of the Annex at Bedford Road and Lowther Avenue. Although the park is near Bloor Street, it feels sheltered from the city noise and chaos. A large stainless steel sculpture of a pitcher, titled The Vessel, pays homage to the buried waterway of Taddle Creek that used to run through the neighborhood. Water from the fountain is stored underground and used to irrigate the park. Parkgoers can sit and watch as water drips from the top of the pitcher’s spout. There’s a playground area on the other side of the park with a sandbox and swing set. A plaque at the Lowther Avenue entrance of the park honours Beatrice Worsley who lived next to the park and was the first female Canadian computer scientist. 
Overheard: Sparrows chirp and flap their wings as they cool off at the base of the fountain. 
Did you know? The Vessel is made from four kilometres of stainless steel rods because this was the  length of Taddle Creek when it ran from downtown Toronto to Lake Ontario. 

Huron Washington Parkette
420 Huron St.
Time of visit: 1:05 p.m.
Grade: B (Last year’s grade: B+)
Reason to go: Huron Washington Parkette is a charming miniature greenspace just south of Bloor Street. Most of the parkette is a fenced-off playground area with a lone picnic table outside for parents to keep a close watch. The parkette used to be located across the street next to the University of Toronto Schools. If you visit, you will be reminded of this because the sign is confusingly still at its old site. If you want to be immersed in nature, Huron Washington Parkette is probably not the park for you. However, it’s a great place to take your little ones if they want to blow off some steam. 
Overheard: Construction on Bloor Street. 
Did you know? This park was once on the north side of Sussex, but it was relocated temporarily to the south side during the University of Toronto Schools’ renovations. There appears to be no rush to move it back.

The landscaping and architecture of the Village of Yorkville Park represent the diversity of Canadian ecosystems.

Village of Yorkville Park 
115 Cumberland St.
Time of visit: 1:57 p.m. 
Grade: A- (last year’s grade: B) 
Reason to go: The Village of Yorkville Park is an innovative urban greenspace with many unique features and an interesting history. The site used to be a parking lot, but after years of protest, an international design competition was held in the ’90s to build the park. One of its most striking characteristics is a 700-ton rock, transplanted from the Canadian Shield. The top of the massive outcrop is a great place to sit and look out on Yorkville Village. There’s a stainless steel water curtain next to it that turns into an icicle display in the winter. The park is laid out in separate gardens that reflect a range of Canadian ecosystems. There’s a wetland garden, a cluster of serviceberry trees, beds of wildflowers and more. Plenty of moveable tables and chairs make this the perfect spot to stop for lunch. 
Overheard: Typical Yorkville activity such as loud cars driving by and shoppers hustling along. 
Did you know? In 2012, the park won the American Society of Landscape Architects Landmark Award. 

Walmer Road Parkettte
227 Walmer Rd.
Time of visit: 2:47 pm
Grade: C (Last year’s grade: C+)
Reason to go: This humble parkette is located among a row of townhouses just south of Davenport Road. It’s a nice place to sit and read or talk on the phone, but not much more. The space doesn’t have much to offer, other than four benches and a handful of trees. Casa Loma is conveniently located just steps away if you’re in the mood for sightseeing, but this park is not much to write home about. 
Overheard: Traffic on Davenport Road.
Did you know? Casa Loma’s architect E. J. Lennox also designed Old City Hall and the Bank of Toronto. 

Wychwood Park is the kind of greenspace you can spend hours in.

Wychwood Barns Park
76 Wychwood Ave.
Time of visit:  2:16 p.m.
Grade: A (Last year’s grade: A)
Reason to go: Wychwood Park is a beautiful greenspace that provides something for every kind of parkgoer. It’s home to Artscape Wychwood Barns, a converted heritage building that was built in 1913 as a streetcar maintenance facility. Now, the space contains artist studios, a theatre, and office spaces for local community groups. Outside, there’s a greenhouse, a beach volleyball court, and a fenced-off dog park. The Stop Community Food Centre hosts a farmer’s market year-round on Saturdays, featuring over 35 farmers and prepared food vendors. There’s a playground area with a splash pad for children, as well as a grassy open field and ping pong table. Almost hidden in the corner of the park is a learning garden that showcases Toronto’s “best nature.” This park is the kind of place you can spend hours in as there’s a lot to discover. 
Overheard: “I got you, keep going!” as a father teaches his son how to ride a bike. 
Did you know? Those interested in volunteering at the learning garden can visit www.yourleaf.org/volunteer to get involved. 

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