THE BEACHESUrban pleasures, natural beauty MAP ONE N Kenilworth Ave Lee Avenue

Coxw Dixon Ave Bell

Brookmount Rd Wheeler Ave Wheeler Waverley Rd

Ashland Ave Herbert Ave Boardwalk Dr

Lockwood Rd

Elmer Ave

efair Ave efair O

r c

h

ell A ell a

r d Lark St Park Blvd Penny Ln

venu Battenberg Ave 8 ingston Road K

e 1 6 9 East Queen Street East 11 Kenilworth Ave Lee Avenue Kippendavie Ave Waverley Rd Sarah Ashbridge Ave Northen Dancer Blvd

Eastern Avenue Joseph Duggan Rd 7 Boardwalk Dr Winners Cir

10 2 Buller Ave V

12

Boardwalk Dr Kew Beach Ave Al

5 Lake Shore Blvd East W 4

3 Lake

S

.com _ gd Legend

n: www.ns Beach Front Municipal Parking Corpus Christi Beaches Park/Balmy Bellefair United Church

g 1 5 9 Catholic Church Beach Park 10 . Desi Boardwalk One-way Street d 2 Woodbine Park 6 No. 17 Firehall her 11 Library p Bus, Streetcar Architectural/ he Ashbridge’s Bay Park S 3 7 Route Historical Interest 12 Kew Williams Cottage 4 8 Waverley Road

: Diana Greenspace Recreation & Leisure

g Baptist Church

Writin Paved Pathway

BEACH_0106 THE BEACHESUrban pleasures, natural beauty MAP TWO N

H W

Victoria Park Avenue Nevi

a

S ineva

m Spruc ca

Lee Avenue Kin

b Wheeler Ave Wheeler Balsam Ave

ly

ll rbo Beech Ave

Willow Ave Av

Ave e P e Crown Park Rd gs Gle

e Hill

e r

Isleworth Ave w

o

ark ark ug

n Manor Dr o

o

d R d h R h

Rd Apricot Ln Ed Evans Ln Blvd

Duart Park Rd

d d d 15 16 18 Queen Street East

11 19 Balsam Ave Beech Ave Willow Ave

Leuty Ave Nevi Hammersmith Ave Scarboro Beach Blvd Maclean Ave

N Lee Avenue Wineva Ave Glen Manor Dr Silver Birch Ave Munro Park Ave

u

Avion Ave Hazel Ave r

sew ll Fernwood Park Ave

Balmy Ave P e 20

ood R ark ark

Bonfield Ave Blvd

d

0 Park Ave Glenfern Ave Violet Ave Selwood Ave Fir Ave 17 12 Hubbard Blvd Silver Birch Ave Alfresco Lawn 14

13 E

Lake Ontario

S

.com _ gd Legend

n: www.ns Beach Front Municipal Parking g 13 Leuty Lifesaving Station 17 Balmy Beach Club

. Desi Boardwalk One-way Street 14 Kew Beach Park Boathouse 18 The Fox Cinema d her p Bus, Streetcar Architectural/ 15 Kew Beach United Church 19 Church of St. Aidan he S Route Historical Interest 16 The Glen Stewart Ravine 20 R.C. Harris Filtration Plant

: Diana Greenspace Recreation & Leisure g Writin

BEACH_0106 THE BEACHES Urban pleasures, natural beauty

How to get there Points of interest By TTC: Take the 501 streetcar west from Corpus Christi Catholic Church. “Blue Flag” program: an the Queen Street subway station to any 1 Built in 1926, this church international award for stop between Coxwell and Neville Park. possesses a very large indoor maintaining high standards for By Car: Depending on the time of year as mural painted by noted water quality, safety, beach well as the time of day, parking can be tricky. Canadian painter (and onetime maintenance, and environmental There’s street parking (with ticket purchase) Beaches resident) William education and outreach. except for certain hours, and there are several Kurelek (1927-1977). 5 Beaches Park/Balmy Beach small “Green P” parking lots dotted along Park. The City began acquiring Queen St. E., such as: 2 Woodbine Park. The Woodbine Racetrack operated at this privately-owned land and water • Lee Ave. south of Queen E.; location from 1874 to 1993, lots in 1921, demolishing more than 200 houses and a number • Hammersmith Ave. north of Queen; and the prestigious Queen’s Plate was run there from 1883 of private boathouses to make • three small parking lots 1/2 block south of to 1955. Over the years, the way for Beaches Park, which Queen just west of Woodbine; Park has hosted a great variety opened in 1932. Balmy Beach • Eastern Ave. between Coxwell and Queen. of events—including “Buffalo Park was created in 1903, and Bill’s Wild West Show” in 1885. has enjoyed a close relationship The racetrack was renamed with the Balmy Beach Club (see “” when Point 17) since the very Woodbine opened in its current beginning. location in ’s 6 No. 17 Firehall. After the Great northwestern suburbs in 1956, Toronto Fire destroyed much of and the old track closed in the downtown core in 1904, the 1993; the area was Toronto Fire Department began subsequently redeveloped as to evolve from groups of residential housing and volunteers into today’s parkland. professional organization. No. 17 was built in 1905, taking 3 Ashbridge’s Bay Park. This park is named after Sarah Ashbridge, over from the volunteer fire a United Empire Loyalist brigade that had been operating There are also two fairly large parking lots south originally from Philadelphia, at Queen and Lee since 1891. of Lakeshore Blvd. E.; both of these provide who settled here in 1793. A 7 Beach Hebrew Institute. easy access to the parkland by the lake. In the Quaker widow with two sons, Commonly known as “The summer, however, you’ll need to get there early she obtained a Crown land grant Beaches Shul”, the Institute to find a spot. for a farm in 1799; the family purchased a small brick-and- lived there until the last son continued on next page timber structure (built in 1895) died in 1861. The waterfront from Kenilworth Baptist Church park you see today officially in 1920 (see Point 8 for the opened in 1977. early history of this building). Several years after the purchase, 4 Woodbine Beach. In 2005, Woodbine Beach became one of the façade was rebuilt in the the first beaches in North traditional “Shtibel” style, America to be recognized by the adding the arched entrance,

g windows, and parapet. continued on next page See Map 1 for points 1-12. See Map 2 for points 13-20 Photo: © Bill Kin

BEACH_0106 Urban pleasures, natural beauty THE BEACHES

Why you should go The Beaches offers all the best features of More points of interest a small resort town just 15 minutes from . With more than 400 unique boutiques, spas, restaurants, cafés, 8 Waverley Road Baptist Church. After 12 Kew Williams Cottage. Built in 1902 and pubs between Lockwood and Neville the congregation outgrew their by Kew Williams, the youngest son Park, you’ll find everything from building on Queen at Kenilworth, of landowner Joseph Williams (see homemade ice cream to fine dining, from they commissioned a new, grander Point 10), the stone cottage was antiques to one-of-a-kind gifts, from spa building on nearby Waverley, which sold along with Kew Gardens to the services to homemade pet-treats. But what opened in 1908. The old building City in 1907. Used by the park truly sets The Beaches apart from every (see Point 7) was used at various superintendent for many decades, other neighbourhood in Toronto is the times as a warehouse and the cottage is now used for special proximity to the parks along : community centre for more than a events such as art exhibitions. decade. As land along Queen St. with kilometres of sandy beaches, a 13 Leuty Lifesaving Station. One of the became more valuable, the building boardwalk, biking/rollerblading paths, and most photographed landmarks in was raised off its foundations on landscaped gardens, this is a lovely place The Beaches, Leuty Station has Queen, moved several hundred feet to visit at any time of year. The Beaches been the scene of more than 6,000 south on Kenilworth, and rotated to also offers quiet, tree-lined streets with successful rescues. In response to face east; the old church then gracious Victorian mansions and charming the changing shoreline, the Station found new life as the Beach 19th century beach-houses and cottages. has been moved four times since it Hebrew Institute. Whether you’re looking for a unique gift, a was built in 1920. In the 1990s, it mouthwatering pastry, an energetic 9 Bellefair United Church. Originally was a run-down structure facing workout, or a peaceful stroll along the built in 1906 as the “Beach demolition; local residents refused beach, this area has it all. Methodist Church”, work on the to let it go without a fight, and current Neo-Gothic structure began formed S.O.S. (Save Our Station), What to do in 1914. You have to go inside to which raised the money to restore see the most unusual and lovely this important historic building. Shopping, dining, and outdoor recreation feature of this church: three huge are the main attractions of this “resort 14 Kew Beach Park Boathouse. stained-glass skylights in the town” inside Toronto. There’s so much to Constructed in 1932, this once- sanctuary. see and do in The Beaches that you pretty structure originally stood should expect to spend at least four 10 Kew Gardens. In 1853, Joseph right on the water; in 1954, hours here; if the weather is good, you Williams opened Kew Farms in the however, Hurricane Hazel smashed can easily spend a whole day browsing Queen/Lee area; in 1879, he into Toronto—and the Boathouse. through boutiques, enjoying a delicious transformed part of his property What Hazel left behind (not much meal, and strolling along the Boardwalk into “The Canadian Kew Gardens”, more than the roof and walls at and picturesque sidestreets. which offered “innocent either end) was moved to the north The best way to introduce yourself to this amusements in great variety”. The side of the boardwalk. City purchased the grounds in diverse area is to purchase a TTC Day 15 Kew Beach United Church. This 1907, turning it and adjoining Pass—which offers a single customer or church began life in 1882 as a properties into a public park. a family/group of customers unlimited Methodist Mission; in 1895 it travel on all regular TTC services—and 11 The Beaches Library. In 1907, the became a Presbyterian church, and ride the streetcar from Coxwell all the Carnegie Corporation gave a in 1905, the building was moved way to Victoria Park where it turns $50,000 grant to build three from Queen St. to its present around and heads back west. Make a libraries in Toronto. Opened in location on Wineva. The structure note of establishments or areas that 1916, the Beaches Branch was you see today was built in 1914 appeal to you, then you can hop on and modeled after a 17th-century to accommodate the growing con- off the streetcar at will as you head back English Collegiate Grammar School gregation. In 1925, it became a west. (You can purchase your Day Pass with a Tudor-Gothic great hall. This United church. at any subway station or from brick-and-stone building received a participating TTC ticket agents. complete makeover in 2005. continued on next page For more information, visit: www.toronto.ca/ttc/family_pass.htm.) continued on next page

For more information, go to: www.beachesbia.com, www.wineva-oak.com, or www.beachestoronto.com

BEACH_0106 Urban pleasures, natural beauty THE BEACHES

While you’re at the eastern end, make a Ashbridge’s Bay Park. Walking south from Balmy Beach Park. It will take you about point of walking down to the R.C. Harris Woodbine Park, you’ll find Ashbridge’s an hour and a half to walk along all the Filtration Plant to admire the beautiful Bay Park: a great place to play beach lakeside trails; you can break this up with Art Deco buildings. From there, you can volleyball or to walk, bike, or rollerblade a picnic lunch, or with a short walk north either head down to the lake and pick on the paved paths and wooden to Queen St. for shopping or dining. up the Boardwalk or walk back up to boardwalk. There are plenty of scenic Kew Gardens. This 20-acre park offers Queen St. lookouts over Lake Ontario; in the public washrooms, a baseball diamond, In the late 1800s and early 1900s, this summer, you can also take in a an ice rink, lawn bowling, a swimming area was a series of privately-owned Shakespearean play courtesy of pool, tennis courts, and beautifully amusement parks, summer homes, and www.shakespeareworks.com. The park landscaped gardens. At the north-west cottages; all that remains from those days offers expansive beaches; public boat entrance to Kew Gardens Park, you’ll find are some of the houses, the street names, launch ramps, marina, and moorings; a memorial to Canadians who gave their and the boardwalk—which has been fishing; and a waterfowl habitat. lives in World Wars I and II and the repaired, restored, and rebuilt many times Woodbine Beach/Beaches Park/Balmy Korean War. Stroll over to Lee Ave. and over the years. Beach Park. Follow the lakeside you’ll discover Kew Williams Cottage: a The Boardwalk. Boardwalks have existed boardwalk or cycling trail east along a pretty little house with a corner tower with in this area since the 1850s. Today, this series of linked waterfront parks— a bell-shaped roof and a wrap-around is a 3.5 kilometre (just over 2 miles) path Woodbine Beach, Beaches Park, and verandah. Just north of the Cottage connecting all the lakeside parks and beaches. It really doesn’t matter which end you start at, and if time is short, you don’t have to walk the entire distance to get a feel for the area. Take a tip from the locals, who come here for relaxation and More points of interest pleasurable exercise: walk, bike, or theatre in Toronto. Built in 1914, it rollerblade along the paths at your own 16 The Glen Stewart Ravine. In 1872, is a popular repertory cinema today. speed. Note: there’s a paved trail that the Reverend William Stewart runs roughly parallel to the Boardwalk for Darling bought land south of 19 Church of St. Aidan. Originally bikes and rollerblades. Look both ways Kingston Rd. where he built a founded as a mission of St. John’s, before you cross the trail to reach the homestead known as “Glen Norway in 1891, the present Boardwalk, since wheeled traffic can be Stewart”. After his death in 1866, church officially opened for services moving at quite a clip along here. The the property was sold to Alfred in 1910. The beautiful stained- City has created an “Eastern Ravine and Ames, who made many glass windows—some of which are Beaches Discovery Walk”—a self-guided improvements to the house and almost a century old—have been walk along the Boardwalk and through the grounds. The City acquired the 8.5 added over the years as memorials parks, ravine, and Beaches hectare park by gift in 1931. given by parish families; the most recent window was dedicated in neighbourhood. This tour takes about 17 Balmy Beach Club. In 1903, Sir three hours to complete; for more Adam Wilson deeded the property 2002. The floor-to-ceiling wall information, click here: at the foot of Beech Ave. to the hanging in the Chapel was designed www.toronto.ca/parks/brochures/walks/DW residents of the Beach; in 1905, and executed by long-time _Eastern.pdf the Balmy Beach Club, a non-profit parishioner and well-known artist Doris McCarthy. Woodbine Park. Starting at the west end organization for amateur athletes, of The Beaches, Woodbine is the first in a opened its doors. The original Club 20 R.C. Harris Filtration Plant. The series of linked parks along the House was destroyed by fire in largest water filtration plant in waterfront. Home to the Woodbine 1936, and the second building Canada, R.C. Harris was built in the Racetrack for almost 120 years until its burnt down in 1963; on both 1930s on the original site of an closure in 1993, the park now features occasions, members stepped in to amusement park named after wetlands, naturalized meadows, gardens, rebuild it. The Club House you see Queen Victoria. The Art Deco and an amphitheatre. today was opened in 1965. buildings, with their beautiful green copper roofs and yellow brick walls, 18 The Fox Cinema. Originally known as the Prince Edward Theatre, The Fox are often used in film shoots. is the oldest continuously running

For more information, go to: www.beachesbia.com, www.wineva-oak.com, or www.beachestoronto.com

BEACH_0106 Urban pleasures, natural beauty THE BEACHES

stands the Dr. William D. Young In 1880, Queen St. was extended west plant was named for Beaches resident Memorial: an ornate Italian-Renaissance- from Woodbine Race Track to Nursewood R. C. Harris—who was also Toronto’s style fountain with a statue of a child in Rd.; by the end of the decade, the Commissioner of Works from 1912 to the centre. Local residents paid for this Company (TSR) 1945. memorial to be erected after the ’flu had extended its line to Lee Ave. The The last amusement park to be built in epidemic carried off their beloved doctor improved street and the streetcar line the area was also the largest and most in 1918 at the age of 44. opened the door to development of a ambitious of them all. Operated between The Glen Stewart Ravine. You can access number of amusement parks as well as 1907 and 1925, Scarboro Beach this 8.5 hectare park from the corner of private cottages and year-round houses. Amusement Park offered a hundred rides Queen and Glen Manor. It will take you The (TRC) and attractions, including freak shows, about half an hour to hike up to Kingston acquired the TSR’s franchise in the concerts, games of chance, a restaurant, Rd. to the north; then follow the trail east 1890s, and extended the line east to refreshment stands, and dance and then south back down to Queen. You’ll Munro Park: a 16-acre site amusement bathing pavilions. Archival photographs encounter some fairly steep hills in the park featuring a dance pavilion, a show a 1/4 mile long roller coaster and ravine, so make sure you’re wearing bandstand, and a 150-foot Ferris wheel. “Shoot the Chutes”: small wooden boats sensible walking shoes if you’re going to The TRC managed this as well as Victoria that carried riders down a steep ramp into hike this trail. Park to the east. Munro Park was closed the lagoon below. and subdivided for development in 1907; Shopping/Dining. With more than 400 one- Victoria Park closed after the 1906 Today, this prime residential area offers of-a-kind boutiques, spas, and eateries to summer season. In 1927, the City easy access to every amenity—from choose from, you’re sure to find what purchased Victoria Park for use as a water shopping to dining to recreation. you’re looking for in The Beaches. Choose purification plant; the west wing was Nothing’s more than a short stroll away, any two-block stretch along Queen completed in 1935, and the symmetrical so park the car and enjoy the relaxed, between Lockwood and Neville Park and east wing was added in the 1950s. The easy-going ambiance of The Beaches. you’re bound to find at least one antique store, a jeweller, more than one restaurant, a café (either chain or A little trivia independent), a pub, an ice/cream • Several feature films have been shot parlour/bakery/candy store, a health food in and around The Beaches, including: store/restaurant, a clothing boutique, and “The Tuxedo” (2001) starring Jackie a garden/flower shop. You can putter for • A tradition since 1989, the Beaches Chan, Jennifer Love Hewitt; “Between hours in the establishments along Queen International Jazz Festival (BIJF) takes Strangers” (2001) starring Sophia St., and dozens of great restaurants and place the last week of July. One of the Loren and Mira Sorvino; “Undercover pubs offer local and exotic delights. The largest free summer street festivals in Brother” (2001) starring Eddie Griffin, pace is relaxed; you’re meant to savour a Canada, the BIJF attracts 800,000+ Dave Chappelle, Denise Richards, and drink on a patio rather than rush in and jazz, R&B, big band, hip-hop, African, Chris Kattan; “Angel Eyes” (2000) out to get a caffeine fix. Step off this Caribbean, South American, and Latin starring Jennifer Lopez and James lively main street and you’ll find some music fans every year. From concerts Caviezel; and “Frequency” (1999) truly remarkable homes—some of which in the bandshell to the nightly closure starring Dennis Quaid and James date back to the 19th century. of Queen St. to accommodate the Caviezel. dozens of bands and solo performers, • As real-estate values along Queen St. the place is jumpin’! For more rose at the beginning of the 20th A short history information, visit The area began as a relatively isolated century, several buildings were literally www.beachesjazz.com. farming community in the early 1800s. In picked up and moved to a sidestreet the 1870s—in part due to Joseph • Three street names recall the bygone north or south of their original Williams turning part of his extensive era of the pleasure parks: Munro Park, location, including the Beach Hebrew property into “The Canadian Kew Scarboro Beach, and Victoria Park. Institute on Kenilworth, Kew Beach United Church, and #173 Woodbine— Gardens” pleasure park—the area began • The Donald D. Summerville Olympic a wildly-painted house that once to take on new life as a summer resort for Pool at Lakeshore and Woodbine is belonged to William Williamson Torontonians. named for a former Toronto Mayor and (1857–1949), a noted Beaches Beaches resident. builder, manufacturer, alderman, and Justice of the Peace.

For more information, go to: www.beachesbia.com, www.wineva-oak.com, or www.beachestoronto.com

BEACH_0106