GETTING THERE AND BACK Drop out of the City. Follow peaceful You can reach the suggested starting point on public Burke Brook to experience enchanting transit by taking the YONGE subway to Lawrence Station. The 11 BAYVIEW bus serves the suggested DISCOVERY WALKS Sherwood Forest, quiet ravines and a tour end point on Bayview Avenue. spectacular formal garden. ❷ALEXANDER MUIR MEMORIAL GARDENS THE ROUTE Stroll among the herbs and flowers that bloom in this magnificent formal multi- NORTHERNNORTHERN Although you can begin this Discovery Walk at any level garden that was planted in point along the route, a good place to start is the the 1950s. The gardens act RAVINES & Lawrence Subway Station (see top of map). as a superb public RAVINES & The route leads you through Lawrence Park, gateway into the Chatsworth, Blythwood and Sherwood peaceful ravine GARDENS Park ravines. system. GARDENS Alexander Muir wrote One In A Series of Self-Guided Walks ❶RAVINES AND the patriotic BURKE BROOK song, “The This series of ravine parks, displaying a Maple Leaf wide variety of natural and human-made Forever”, scenic landscapes, is connected by Burke in 1867. Burke Brook FOR MORE INFO Brook. First Peoples used these ravines as early as 4000 years ago. They camped, For more information on Discovery Walks, including hunted and traveled in these areas. During the brochures, please call Parks and Recreation early to mid 1800s, logging was common in these Information at (416) 392-1111. For more information ravines. Today, municipal by-laws protect these ravines on area history, inquire at the Locke Branch of the and the City is restoring much of the vegetation. Toronto Public Library. Sherwood Park Burke Brook once flowed naturally through these ❸ HERWOOD ARK Discovery Walks is a program of self-guided walks S P ravines. Walking beside the brook today, you’ll be that links City ravines, parks, gardens, beaches and Explore Sherwood Park Ravine, one of the amazed at the number of ways people have modified neighbourhoods. Other Discovery Walks include: largest remaining protected natural areas in the the water course, including straightening, ditching, Central Ravines, Belt Line and Gardens; Eastern city. The park contains a small remnant of the tunneling and burying, in order to accommodate Ravine and Beaches; Western Ravines and Beaches; vast Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Forest, which excess storm sewer water. In sharp contrast to Don Valley Hills and Dales; and Garrison Creek. once covered this region. Species you can see these modifications, you’ll find the eastern-most include white pine, hemlock, beech, oak and section of the brook, in Sherwood Park Ravine, sugar maple. Some of the huge trees growing on in a nearly untouched natural state. The City is the ravine slopes are at least 150 years old! WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP trying to return the brook to as natural a The City of Toronto would like to thank the Toronto state as possible. Public Library, Toronto District School Board, Toronto Alexander Muir Memorial Gardens Photo by Gera Dillon Enjoy this Discovery Walk Field Naturalists, Toronto Transit Commission, ❄ at different times of the year. Heritage Toronto, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto You’ll be surprised how it changes Public Health, Community History Project and the from season to season.
Task Force to Bring Back the Don for their support. b
Discovery Walks name and logo are official marks of the City of Toronto. Please note that park washrooms are open from May to October. Steep Incline/Decline Stairs Telephone Washrooms Information Signs Connecting/Side Trails Discovery WalkPath L
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