Our fourth and final instalment of the review of area parks for 2024

Compiled by Ammara Khan

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 fourth and final instalment of reviews for 2024.

Taddle Creek Park

Grade: A
Last year’s grade: A
Time: 1:40 p.m.
Location: 40 Bedford Rd.
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. 

Time: 2:07 p.m.
Grade: B+
Last year’s grade: B+
Location: 420 Huron St.
Overheard: A Canada Postworker tugging at the locked front driver seat door of the Canada Post truck while simultaneously talking on the phone. 
Did you know: The Huron Washington Parkette sign is not in front of the park. It is rather on the other side of the street, facing the park. Very confusing… 
Reasons to go: Based on what the playground has to offer, one can conclude that the park’s target market is a younger age group. This little parkette is completely fenced off, with only one entrance. It provides a sense of safety. I imagine parents must be relieved to know that their children are at less of a risk of running into oncoming traffic (not that there is much traffic). 
Cars do not drive by very often, but you can still hear motor vehicles from streets away.
I actually quite like the size of this park and the fact that it is fully enclosed. The small size creates a more intimate environment that feels like it could foster more interaction. The rusty red brick walls of the neighboring buildings also add to the feeling of closeness. Also, despite its humble size, it hosts so many fun elements that children can interact with. 
The yellow/red/blue color theme is very on-brand for children’s parks, and it creates an almost nostalgic vibe. Right outside the enclosure, there is a picnic table. It is close enough that parents can keep a careful eye on the playground, and their voices can still be heard by the children playing. It’s a perfect spot for lunch or a place to sit and rest under the shade of the trees.

Village of Yorkville Park

Grade: B
Last year’s grade: A+
Time: 5:00 p.m.
Location: 115 Cumberland St.
Overheard: Eye of the Tiger by Survivor and I was not entirely sure where it was coming from. 
Reasons to go: This park is really bustling and full of energy on a Sunday afternoon. 
There are many different kinds of people walking in so many different directions. There are lots of stones in this park. Large stone bricks are stacked on top of each other to make some sitting areas, and one very large rock attracts many people who climb to the top of it. 
There are trees, metal chairs, and tables. And lots of pigeons. The table I sat at was decorated with some fresh cigarette ash paired with fresh pigeon poop. The demographic here feels older and busier. 
I sat through two and a half songs (still unsure where it was coming from) and had to leave, feeling a little overstimulated. It felt a little more like a mall food court than a park. 
I would, however, return. I believe it would be very beautiful at night. I noticed spotlights on the ground, and I think they light up during the nighttime. 
Did you know? Yorkville has an amazing coffee shop, Delysées at 161 Yorkville Ave., where a sweet treat will not disappoint.

Walmer Road Parkette 

Grade: C+
Last year’s grade: (not found)
Time: 2:07 pm
Location: 227 Walmer Rd
Overheard: “I have to make a resume, a cover letter…All that bullsh*t”
Reasons to go: This parkette is located on a little patch of grass surrounded by townhouses. It looks like it should be quiet, but it is not. There is the loud buzz of construction nearby. Two benches away from me there are three loud and angry college boys complaining about professors and cover letters. A bird behind me is shouting very loudly. I can hear a leaf blower not far away.
Noise aside, the benches are comfortable. The benches (all four of them) form a semi-circle around a couple of trees and some flowers that are dying. The trees are tall and provide comfortable shade. Amid the trees there is a tall pillar. It looks like a tree trunk at the bottom, but the top is shaped like a roman pillar. 
The townhouses surrounding the park are all identical and it feels like the set of a movie. 
Did you know? Applying mulch around your flowers during the fall can prevent them from dying too early. 

Wychwood Park

Grade: A
Last year’s grade: (n/a)
Time: 2:48 p.m.
Location: 76 Wychwood Ave.
Overheard: Someone walking past playing Water by Tyla on a Bluetooth speaker. 
Reasons to go: This park is really great for children. The playgrounds look like so much fun. I imagine daycare owners around the area feel very lucky. I’m not overly fond of parks with sand coverings but I think I’ll accept it here because all the children here seem to be having an incredible time. I am a little worried though as the playground offers the children little to no shade.
The squirrels at this park look busy, busy to the extent that they do not pay people any mind. I walked very close to one that was digging a hole with so much passion that I could not help but simply observe in admiration of its hard work.  
In the large field across from the playground, a group of children are playing baseball. There is enough room on benches for parents to observe their children in the shade. 
Did you know? Squirrels dig holes here to bury nuts in preparation for winter. Will they ever find them?

Hillcrest Park

Grade: A+
Last year’s grade: (n/a)
Time: 3:18 p.m.
Location: 950 Davenport
Overheard:  A child said, “Momma, look!” and then swung her arms around in circles. I believe she was attempting to twirl. 
Reasons to go: I sat on a picnic table that people had painted many times, drawn on, and carved into. It is sitting under a tall tree. It’s honestly a relic, and I hope they never paint over it. From where I sat, I could see a playground, a tennis court, a table tennis area, and a huge maze! There are so many amenities. There is a basketball court, a dog area, and a path that encircles the park where children enjoy bicycling. The water fountain is child-friendly as it has a built-in stool for children to stand on.
I think this park would be great for families with older children or for groups of kids who are old enough to visit parks without parental supervision. If you bring your own gear, there are a few sports you can play here with your friends and family and later have lunch on the beautifully defaced picnic table. 
Did you know? On the maze, it says: “TSI TKARONTO.” In Mohawk, Tsi means a place where things are permanently situated, while tkaronto means a place where there are trees in the water. 

St. Alban’s Square

Grade: A+
Last year’s grade: (n/a)
Time: 4:19 p.m.
Location: 90 Howland Ave
Overheard: A helicopter. 
Reasons to go: There are about seven benches in this charming park, surrounded by tall, mature trees. The main path runs through the middle. This park is really beautiful to walk through or to take a portrait photo. There is a water fountain and a Bike Share rack. I love the ambiance, and it’s surprisingly quiet despite being next to the street. The grass is well-kept, making it an inviting spot to relax. There are a few stacked construction cones that honestly really didn’t bother me at all.
One highlight is a young tree decorated with unique metallic ornaments dedicated to Thomas Swales which adds a touch of whimsy. The quotation under the name reads: “We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.” It’s a peaceful place with just a few visitors, like a woman playing fetch with her dog. It is ideal for anyone looking to unwind or enjoy a quiet moment in nature.
Did you know? The quotation under the tree is from The Tempest by Shakespeare.

READ MORE:

• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Annex parks report card (Oct./Nov. 2024)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: A report card on our parks – part 2 (Sept. 2024)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: A report card on our parks (Summer 2024)
• FOCUS: Grading our greenspace (Feb. 2024)
• FOCUS: Grading our Greenspace (Dec. 2023)
• FOCUS: Grading our greenspace (Fall 2023)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Third and final instalment (Oct. 2022)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Appraising Annex parks (Sept. 2022)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE (Aug. 2022)
• NEWS: New mural celebrates Indigenous storytelling (July 2022)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE (Fall 2021)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE (July 2021)
• LIFE: Bickford Park embraces yoga (June 2021)
• FOCUS: New park imbued with nostalgia (Apr. 2021)
• ON THE COVER: Renewing Martel’s vision (Nov. 2020)
• FOCUS: Park set for eco-restoration (Nov. 2020)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Grading the green (Aug. 2020)
• FORUM: Making it green (Aug. 2020)
• OBITUARY: Architect leaves indelibe marks (July 2020)
• CHATTER: Sally’s Fright finds a home in Yorkville (July 2020)
• FOCUS: Robert Street Field site of geothermal energy (Mar. 2020)
• CHATTER: Park gets a haircut (Nov. 2019)
• CHATTER: Park still ignored by city (Oct. 2019)
• NEWS: City fails to maintain park (Sept. 2019)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Park it here (August 2019)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Open spaces in the heart of the Annex (Summer 2019)
• NEWS: Huron-Washingon Parkette relocates while UTS expands (Spring 2019)
• NEWS: First meeting on new Mirvish Village park (Summer 2018)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: The best and worst of local parks(Summer 2018)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: More attention to green spaces means parks are improving (July 2018)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Parks on the fringe (AUGUST 2017)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Open spaces in the heart of the Annex (July 2017)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Survey reveals significant upgrades (June 2017)
• GRADING OUR GREENSPACE: Meet our parks supervisor (August 2016)
• Part two of our 2016 parks review (July 2016)
• NEWS: Renewing Margaret Fairley Park (JULY 2016)
• PART ONE: Green sanctuaries in the heart of the city (June 2016)
• Grading our Greenspace (2015)
• NEWS: Sibelius Park officially opens (June 2012)