Gleaner

Serving Toronto's most liveable community with the Annex Gleaner

← →

GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Grading the green (July 2025)

September 5th, 2025 · No Comments

The first instalment of our annual report card on area parks

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. Last year’s grade is provided allowing comparison. The reviews accompanying the assessment also let the reader know what makes each space unique. This is the first instalment of reviews for 2025.

Compiled and photographed by Abigail Harris

Robert Street Park’s extensive amenities and quiet atmosphere provide a feeling of seclusion.

Robert Street Park
50 Sussex Ave.
Time of visit: 1:30 p.m.
Grade: A (Last year’s grade: A)
Reason to go: While Robert Street Park is located just a stone’s throw from the hectic intersection of Spadina Avenue and Bloor Street, its extensive amenities and quiet atmosphere provide a feeling of seclusion. The park was created as a part of the Robert Street Field Project by the University of Toronto. The project not only built this greenspace but installed a geoexchange system under the soccer field next to it, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Muskoka chairs provide comfortable seating, mini pavilions built in the shape of trees supply shade, and long benches surround the perimeter of the greenspace. There is also a rope playground structure for children to play on and a butterfly garden. An Indigenous art piece on the back wall of the park provides a beautiful backdrop to the space. Overall, Robert Street Park is a great place for kids and adults to relax in the city.
Overheard: Children playing touch football shout “one steamboat, two steamboat, three steamboat, four steamboat…” 
Did you know: Geothermal energy uses the natural heating and cooling properties of the earth to regulate temperature in the surrounding buildings connected to the system which is constructed of deep pipes filed with circulating water. In colder months, ground heat is transferred and distributed for heating. In the summer months, this process is reversed, for cooling. 

Jesse Ketchum Park
1310 Bay St.
Time of visit: 2:50 p.m. 
Grade: A (Last year’s grade: A+)
Reason to go: Jesse Ketchum Park is a small but inviting greenspace at the intersection of Davenport Road and Bay Street. The park features big, draping trees which provide shade during the hot summer months. A few benches and water filling stations make it a pleasant and comfortable refuge from the bustle of the city. It is located next to Jesse Ketchum School where children are often  playing on the soccer field or playground. Construction on a high-rise across the street, however, disrupts what could be a quiet, relaxed ambience. All in all, Jesse Ketchum Park is great stop for those looking for a quick escape from the busy city streets.
Overheard: The shouts of children playing at the Jesse Ketchum Early Learning & Child Care Centre a few doors over.
Did you know: Jesse Ketchum School was established around 1831, three years before the founding of the City of Toronto. The current building at 61 Davenport Road dates back to 1914. 

Paul Martel Park has an incredibly beautiful quality to it, with vibrant Muskoka chairs for seating and benches painted the colours of the medicine wheel.

Paul Martel Park
10 Madison Ave.
Time of visit: 11:18 a.m. 
Grade: A- (Last year’s grade: A)
Reason to go: This greenspace, located near the intersection of Spadina Avenue and Bloor Street, underwent a significant revitalization in the past few years thanks to a collaboration between Indigenous tradespeople, artists, and Elders known as Aki Wiidookaagewin (Earth Helpers). The revitalization facilitated Indigenous participant horticultural training, as wells as gardening and cultural programming at the park. As a result, this park has an incredibly beautiful quality to it, with vibrant Muskoka chairs for seating and benches painted the colours of the medicine wheel. An Indigenous mural titled Interconnections frames the back wall. The mural depicts the Indigenous creation story and features important figures such as the Muskrat and Thunderbird. Unfortunately, construction across the street on Spadina interrupts the serenity of the space. But overall, Paul Martel is a beautiful park to take a break from the city and admire the artistic talent of the local community. 
Overheard: A jackhammer from the construction of the new Estonian Cultural Centre across the street.
Did you know: In Indigenous culture, thunderbirds are supernatural, bird-like spirits that can create wind, rain, and thunderstorms. 

Vermont Square Park
819 Palmerston Ave.
Time of visit: 12:15 p.m.
Grade: A (Reviewed last in 2022. Grade then: A+)
Reason to go: Vermont Square Park is a charming greenspace located near Bathurst Street and Dupont Avenue. This park is a gem within Seaton Village. Despite being located close to Bathurst Street and Dupont Avenue, the park feels very serene and peaceful. The extensive grounds allow for all kinds of park-goers to use the space. There is an off-leash dog area for furry friends and a fenced off playground for little ones with a pirate ship-inspired play structure, swing sets, and a wading pool. The park also features three bocce courts, a European ball game. William H. Bolton Arena is located on the east side of the park, and St. Alban’s Boys and Girls Club, which features an indoor pool, community centre, and daycare, is on the north side. 
Overheard: Children screech, “Higher!” as their caretakers push them on the swings. 
Did you know? The Bill Bolton Arena is home to three adult hockey leagues in the summer as well as youth recreational hockey leagues. 

Christie Pits Park 
750 Bloor St. W.
Time of visit: 1:20 p.m.
Grade: A+ (Last year’s grade: A+)
Reason to go: Christie Pits is beloved by many Toronto residents and is one of the largest and most popular parks in the city. This greenspace is home to amenities that draw in all sorts of members from the surrounding community, including an outdoor pool, three baseball diamonds, basketball courts, outdoor table tennis, picnic sites, skate park, a playground, and a splash pad. 
It’s conveniently located next to Christie subway station, making it a must-visit destination every summer. Throughout July and August, the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show hosts weekly movie nights. One can always be entertained here in the summer, as various fairs and festivals are always taking place. If you’re a sports fan, the semi-pro baseball team, the Toronto Maple Leafs, play their home games on Dominico Field in Christe Pits. This park has something for everyone and is worth checking out this summer.
Overheard: A frustrated dog owner shouts, “Waffles, get over here!”
Did you know: The Intercounty Toronto Maple Leafs signed Ayami Sato this season, one of the world’s greatest female baseball players. Sato is the first woman to play in the Intercounty Baseball League and the first in Canadian pro baseball history. (See gleanernews.ca, April 2025).

Gwendolyn MacEwen Parkette is a small but charming greenspace.

Gwendolyn MacEwen Parkette
33 Walmer Rd.
Time of visit: 12:00 p.m. 
Grade: B- (Last year’s grade: B-) 
Reason to go: Gwendolyn MacEwen Parkette is a small but charming greenspace located at Walmer Road and Lowther Avenue. Crab apple trees overhang benches, and yellow and purple flower beds line the pathways. Across the street at Walmer Road Baptist Church there is a beautiful Indigenous mural. The park is in the middle of a roundabout; unfortunately, this means it is a high traffic area with a significant amount of noise. 
Overheard: The sound of children playing during recess at a school located on Walmer Road.
Did you know? Gwendolyn McEwen was a Canadian poet and novelist who began writing and publishing in her teens. She published over 20 books in her lifetime and passed away in 1987 in Toronto. 

Norway Maples frame Sergeant Ryan Russell Parkette.

Sergeant Ryan Russell Parkette 
250 Avenue Rd.
Time of visit: 2:32 p.m.
Grade: A (Grade last year: B+) 
Reason to go: Sergeant Ryan Russell Parkette is across from Jay Macpherson Green and is located at Avenue Road and Dupont Street. Norway Maples frame this greenspace and provide ample shade and privacy from the busy city streets. There is an enclosed playground area for children and shaded benches. The noise, given the park’s location at a busy intersection, can be a bit pervasive. 
Overheard: A bird chirping and cars passing by.
Did you know: The Norway Maple is one of the most common trees in Canada and is native to Europe and West Asia. The leaves are bright green in the summer and turn yellow or red in autumn. 

Boswell Parkette provides a brief passageway into the charming residential area west of Avenue Road.

Boswell Parkette 
4 Boswell Ave.
Time of visit: 1:25 p.m.
Grade: B- (Last year’s grade: B)
Reason to go: Boswell Parkette is a tiny greenspace located along the hectic stretch of Avenue Road between Davenport and Bloor. The parkette provides a brief passageway into the charming residential area of Boswell Avenue. In the spring the lack of a tree canopy leads to a lack of privacy and shade for park-goers. As a result, not much of the noise from Avenue Road is absorbed, making the space feel quite exposed to the elements. The spot is convenient, however, for passersby who need a breather. Although there is only one bench, the parkette is conveniently located next to the Boswell Avenue bus stop which provides shelter. Despite the traffic noise, Boswell Parkette is still a pleasant place to pass through and make a quick stop if you feel inclined to do so. 
Overheard: Cars and bikes zipping by.
Did you know: Boswell Parkette was named after Toronto’s 24th mayor, Arthur Radcliffe Boswell, who is most remembered for hosting a renowned party in commemoration of Toronto’s 50th anniversary in 1884. 

The Doctors’ Parkette 
15 Brunswick Ave. 
Time: 2:32 p.m. 
Grade: D+ (Last year’s grade: C-)
Reasons to go: The Doctors’ Parkette feels like an exercise in hostility—and it’s not just the armrests dividing up the benches. The bushes are overgrown and yellowing, and grass pokes up between the cobblestones that cover nearly the entire parkette. The tree canopy is such that only a third of the benches will ever get shade, and even then, it depends on the time of day. In short, it is nearly impossible to stay and relax here for any substantial period of time. 
Overheard: Sparrows chirping over College Street traffic.
Did you know? It is perfect for when you’re 5-10 minutes early for an appointment at Kensington Health and you feel kind of awkward about bothering the receptionist with your earliness. What other health centre offers that?
— By Drew Glennie

Jay Macpherson Green
255 Avenue Rd. 
Time: 3:35 p.m.
Grade: B+ (Last year’s grade: A-) 
Reasons to go: Nestled at the eastern end of Dupont (and the Annex as a whole) is Jay Macpherson Green, where the tree canopy makes the entire area a shady haven from the summer sun. The green includes a walkway to shorten the pedestrian journey from Avenue Road to Macpherson Avenue with a bench on each side. The park is perhaps not worth a commute from more westerly parts of the Annex, but residents of Yorkville are lucky to have this cozy stopover nearby. 
The rating for this park is somewhat affected by Sergeant Ryan Russell Parkette across the street which has the same amount of shade and benches but also a play structure. Looks like they’re having fun over there.
Overheard: Footsteps on the walking path, both human and canine.
Did you know? The Macpherson Avenue Parkette that comes up on Apple Maps when you search Jay Macpherson Green is a totally different place. Don’t ask me how I know.
— By Drew Glennie

Bring your little ones to enjoy the splash pad, sand pit, rope play structure, and the abundance of toys scattered around Margaret Fairley Park.

Margaret Fairley Park
100 Brunswick Ave.
Time: 11:58 a.m. 
Grade: A (Last year’s grade: A)
Reasons to go: Margaret Fairley Park is a charming greenspace located in the heart of Harbord Village. It is named after the renowned Canadian writer and activist Margaret Fairley. Bring your little ones here to enjoy the splash pad, sand pit, rope play structure, and the abundance of toys scattered around. Natural wooden benches and picnic tables add a rustic feel, as if you just happened upon a peaceful clearing in the middle of a forest. The park feels quiet and secluded, making it easy to forget you’re just one block from the construction and chaos of Harbord Street.
Overheard: A mother and her child playing together in the sandpit. 
Did you know? One unique feature of this park is an installation of musical instruments called Thunder Drums. They are percussion instruments that resemble stools for children 18 months to 12 years. 

Jean Sibelius Square
50 Kendal Ave.
Time: 2:15 p.m.
Grade: A+ (Last year’s grade: A+)
Reasons to go: Jean Sibelius Square is a beloved destination in the Annex that’s rich with amenities for all age groups. The park has an outdoor fitness gym which parkgoers can use during the warmer months to get a workout in. For little ones, there’s a large playground area with a sandpit, rock-climbing wall, and rope play structure. With plenty of shady trees and picnic tables, Jean Sibelius Square is a great spot to host a gathering. The hustle and bustle of Bloor Street feels far away, and there is a general feeling of peace and quiet in the square. During the winter, the park’s large grassy area turns into an ice rink, making it the perfect place for community members to connect over a game of hockey.
Overheard: An exasperated dog walker asks her pack to “Sit, please!” as she struggles to take a photo of all five of them.
Did you know? Jean Sibelius was a Finnish composer of the late Romantic period. The park was originally called Kendal Square. It was renamed Jean Sibelius Square in 1959 when Toronto’s Finnish community donated a memorial to Jean Sibelius to the city. 

Bloor-Bedford Parkette
245 Bloor Street W. 
Time: 1:11 p.m.
Grade: B+ (Last year’s grade: B) 
Reason to go: Bloor-Bedford Parkette is a nice shady spot along Bloor Street to stop and sit for a while. With the parkette being right across from the University of Toronto Varsity Centre and steps from the Royal Conservatory, you feel as if you’re right in the middle of all the action of the city. Plus, on clear days, you have a perfect view of the CN Tower in the distance. Unfortunately, it’s easy to get distracted by the noise and construction of the surrounding area.
Overheard: Traffic and cyclists buzzing by and a sporting event across the road at Varsity Centre. 
Did you know? For 32 years, the CN Tower held the record for the world’s tallest freestanding structure.

Matt Cohen Park is an endearing space located at the intersection of Bloor and Spadina.

Matt Cohen Park
393 Bloor St. West 
Time: 12:05 p.m.
Grade: C- (Last year’s grade: C-) 
Reason to go: Located at the intersection of Bloor and Spadina, Matt Cohen Park is an endearing space positioned right in the city’s core. It features some benches and shady trees but has heavy foot traffic and is more of a quick stop for commuters than a serene destination. Flocks of pigeons seem to love frequenting this park and are not afraid to approach you and ask for food. The park struggles to provide much of an escape from the city given its location and the noise. But what Matt Cohen lacks in lush greenscaping it makes up for in Canadian culture. Parkgoers can stop and read one of the six memorial plaques that detail the life story of esteemed Canadian writer Matt Cohen. Cohen received the Governor General’s Award for his novel Elizabeth and After and has been recognized for his children’s books and short stories. 
Overheard: Pigeons coo as they fight over a piece of bread while firetruck sirens sound in the distance. 
Did you know: Matt Cohen published children’s literature under the pseudonym Teddy Jam.

Sally Bird Park is easy to miss if you’re not paying attention.

Sally Bird Park
194 Brunswick Ave.
Grade: C+ (Last year’s grade: C+)
Time: 11:41 a.m. 
Reason to go: Sally Bird Park is a quaint greenspace tucked away in Harbord Village. The park is sandwiched between houses on Brunswick Avenue; it can be easy to miss if you’re not paying attention. Its discrete entrance makes it feel like a hidden passage, not so much a park to linger in. There are a few benches, but the park isn’t exactly inviting and functions more like a pleasant way of cutting through to the parallel street Alan Powell Lane. A unique feature of Sally Bird are the three outdoor fitness machines. Although it is small, the park serves its purpose of being a quiet enclave amid busy city streets. 
Overheard: Dogs panting as they trot through the park alongside their owners. 
Did you know? This park used to be called Brunswick Parkette, but was renamed in 2004 to honour local resident Sally Bird. 

READ MORE:

Tags: Annex · Life