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GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Annex parks report card (Oct./Nov. 2024)

November 8th, 2024 · No Comments

Third instalment of the Gleaner’s review of area parks for 2024

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 third instalment of reviews for 2024.

By Ammara Khan

Huron Street Playground 
Huron Street Playground “provides a sort of stillness that is uncommon to come across in the busy city.” AMMARA KHAN/GLEANER NEWS

495 Huron St.
Grade: A-(Last year’s B-)
Time: 1:23 p.m. 
Overheard: Wind blowing through the leaves. Airplanes flying overhead. This young couple has a speaker and they’re playing rap music. The girl is filming a TikTok dance. 
Reasons to go: I (birkenstock-clad) was extremely grateful to see woodchips for the playground covering. I was able to comfortably make my way to the very interestingly shaped swings and reconnect with my childlike whimsy. Bring yourself, bring your kids, bring your dogs. This park is ideal for a variety of people. 
The playground is equipped for children but it’s not childish to the point of deterring people who no longer identify as children. Curious children might enjoy the toy rock conveniently placed at the center of the park. Even I could not resist the urge to take a closer look. 
The benches are comfortable; a great place to read, write, or just sit. You can sit for a long time because the park has the perfect number of trees, and a tall enough building to provide much needed shade. There are also picnic tables—a great place to enjoy lunch outside. Dogs can also appreciate the dog enclosure (and the dog-friendly watering station). 
The watering station is people friendly too. There is also a rack where you can keep your bicycles. The trees and the architecture are the main actors in this park. They create an energy that is calm and peaceful. The park provides a sort of stillness that is uncommon to come across in the busy city. 
Did you know: The tall apartment building, Brazil Towers, which provided much of the shade I was sitting in, was designed by architect Uno Prii. 

Taddle Creek Park
Sir Frederick Banting lived right by Taddle Creek park at 46 Bedford Rd. AMMARA KHAN/GLEANER NEWS

40 Bedford Rd.
Grade: A (Last year A)
Time: 1:40 p.m.
Overheard: A group of friends laughing. Raindrops consistently hitting the ground at the foot of the giant fountain which is a sculpture of a pitcher.  
Reasons to go: Upon entering the park, I was greeted by a squirrel sprawled out on its belly, arms stretched fully out by its sides. I needed to walk past it to enter the park, which deeply disturbed it. It got up, its back to me, threw an unhappy (I assume) glance my way and bolted away. I did not let this altercation deter me, and I moved on.
On one side of the park there’s a playground for kids, and on the other side of the park there’s a sitting area surrounding a large sculpture of a pitcher with water dripping down the edges. I sat at the benches surrounding this fountain. Water falls from the top and hits the bottom forming little puddles. Little birds, (I counted six of them) use this puddle to cool down and take baths. They fly back and forth between the puddle and a bush, and it seems like such a great time. There is a Bike Share rack here too. There is a lot of foot traffic. People use this park to cut across the corner of the street. Some choose to sit for a little bit and enjoy the sounds of the birds having a blast and the water droplets hitting the ground. 
Did you know: Sir Fredrick Banting’s Home was at 46 Bedford Rd.

Philosopher’s Walk 
Philosoher’s Walk offers a nice stroll off busy Bloor Street. AMMARA KHAN/GLEANER NEWS

78 Queen’s Park Cres
Grade: A+ (Last year A+)
Time: 2:11
Overheard: So many different languages (both human and bird)! Also, “Beagle!…nice.”
Reasons to go: I sat on a bench that commemorates the celebration of Rachel’s graduation from Trinity College in 2018. It is dedicated to “her future filled with success! With love, from Peter, Mai, and Bella.” If you walk along the length of Philosopher’s Walk, you’ll see that most of the benches are dedicated to various people. It was by chance that I got to enjoy the company of Rachel, Peter, Mai, and Bella. There are so many trees here providing a lot of shade. This park feels secluded; I enjoy the fact that I cannot see any cars when I am in the centre of the park. If you enjoy listening to the sounds of birds, this is the place to be. I heard so many different types of birds. Short chirps and longer tweets blended into very beautiful melodies. Similarly, you can hear a lot of different human sounds. I overheard so many snippets of conversations in languages I could not understand. This park attracts a variety of people: alone; in groups; old and young; cycling or walking; pets or no pets; babies or no babies. No one really seems rushed to me. The calm feeling of leisure came over me too, and I found myself not wanting to leave.
Did you know: In the city of Toronto, installing a new bench with an engraved metal plaque costs $2,530 and engraving a metal plaque onto an existing bench costs $1,753.

Queen’s Park North
A statue of King Edward VII watches over Queen’s Park North. AMMARA KHAN/GLEANER NEWS

47 Queen’s Park Cres. 
Grade: A (Last year A)
Time: 2:42 p.m.
Overheard: Someone is playing a ukulele. He taps his feet along with the beat of the music. He’s singing too. And he’s actually really good.
Reasons to go: There are benches encircling an equestrian statue of King Edward VII. It looks like the type of place that tourists would visit, not just to gaze upon the statue, but to observe what the Toronto public looks like. I am sitting on the benches among many people and none of them seem to be paying any mind to the sculpture; to each their own. Some wait for friends, read books, play games in the grassy area, or eat picnics. One notable man plays the ukulele. He sits on one of the benches around the statue. 
I think this park perfectly encapsulates the unpredictability of Toronto. It’s beautiful and crowded and confusing. I witnessed two boys attempting to co-ride a bicycle. One of them is wearing rollerblades, and his legs straddle the front wheel. They attempt one full circle around the king. In a mess of wheels and limbs, they crash to the ground after making impact with another unsuspecting boy on a skateboard. They fall directly in front of the man with the ukulele, who responds to the crash with an understandable “weeeheeeee!” He finished his tune and set the ukulele aside. He then pulls out a notebook. The boys are still on the ground, now with their water bottles, where I guess they decided to take an impromptu water break. 
Toronto is a fun city. Queen’s Park is a fun park. 
Did you know: The name of King Edward VII’s horse depicted in the statue is Kildare. 

Queen’s Park

110 Wellesley St. W.
Grade: A (Last year n/a)
Time: 2:57
Overheard: The siren from a fire truck driving past. 
Reasons to go: If you want to go to Ottawa to look at the parliament buildings but you do not want to drive for four hours, then I have some great news for you.
When you are looking at the legislative building at Queen’s Park, it does not look like it belongs in Toronto. Opposite to the legislative building is a view of the city. 
The legislative building is grand with its beautiful romanesque architecture. Those who appreciate architecture could spend significant time here simply looking at this building. There is so much detail. At the foot of the building, towards the left side if you look at it from the front, there is a statue of Queen Elizabeth II. 
There is a long path that goes right down the middle of the park, from the legislative building to the street. I found it very entertaining to stand in that path and consistently look back and forth because I love juxtaposition.
I would say that there is not enough shade around the path, which makes it difficult to enjoy for long under the sun. But the gardens surrounding the path are worth spending some time admiring. The bushes are trimmed to perfection. 
Did you know: The legislative building has a variety of guided tours which you can book on their website.

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Tags: Annex · Life

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