GETTING THERE AND BACK Explore Downtown Toronto! You can reach the suggested start and end point on Discover how parks, gardens and A variety of wildlife finds habitat and refuge in public transit by taking the YONGE/UNIVERSITY these same green spaces, particularly during spring subway to Union Station. Other subway stations DISCOVERY WALKS streetscapes link Downtown’s and fall when birds and some butterflies are providing close access include Dundas, Queen, King, historic, commercial and migrating. Species seen most often throughout the St. Andrew and Osgoode. year are pigeons, squirrels and racoons. entertainment districts. As you continue your exploration, you will encounter This Downtown Discovery Walk leads you through trees, shrubs and flowers growing along sidewalks and the dense core of the City. Hidden among the in planters on both public and private land. Trees are skyscrapers, you will discover a rich variety of parks, invaluable assets in improving the quality of urban gardens and streetscapes. Since the 1960s, most of life by reducing air pollution, creating shade and DOWNTOWN these parks and gardens have been created through beautifying neighbourhoods as well as providing DOWNTOWN building demolition, land exchanges, street closures, wildlife food and habitat. lease agreements, land purchases and through TORONTOTORONTO the City’s development approval process Parks, gardens and streetscapes provide for major projects. dramatic contrasts with One In A Series of Self-Guided Walks surrounding historic and Berczy Park These parks and gardens have contemporary buildings. Note design features ranging from the wide variety of building FOR MORE INFO traditional to materials used. Fossils may For walking brochures on this and other Discovery contemporary, from be seen in some of the Walks, please call Parks and Recreation Information at pastoral to urban. Cloud building stones along this (416) 338-0338. For more information on area history, Gardens, Simcoe Park Walk. inquire at the City Hall or St. Lawrence branches of the and Olympic Gardens are Toronto Public Library or the Urban Affairs Library, a few of the many parks Murals, sculptures and Metro Hall. noted for their unique statues located in the Discovery Walks is a program of self-guided walks design. Other open spaces parks, gardens and that links City ravines, parks, gardens, beaches and include a Victorian garden, streetscapes along this Walk neighbourhoods. Other Discovery Walks include: a sculpture garden, a cloud are representative of the Central Ravines, Belt Line and Gardens; Don Valley forest in a greenhouse, a historic impressive collection of public Hills and Dales; Western Ravines and Beaches; railway round-house park and art that embodies the spirit of Northern Ravines and Gardens; Eastern Ravine & ceremonial squares, all within the core Toronto. Beaches; Garrison Creek; Humber River, Old Mill & of Canada's largest City. On this urban adventure, many hidden treasures, Marshes; and Uptown Toronto. Trinity Church Many of these parks and gardens have been created sights and sounds will be revealed to you. Discover over underground shopping concourses and parking Downtown Toronto, the “City within a Park!” lots, where a minimum of five feet of soil is provided WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP for the healthy growth of trees. Opportunities to stop, Simcoe Park Photo by Brian Byrnes The City of Toronto would like to thank the Toronto look and listen are provided in these green spaces, Public Library, Toronto Field Naturalists, Toronto most of which have seating, public art, water elements Transit Commission, Heritage Toronto, Toronto and nearby cafes and shopping. Public Health, Toronto Heart Health Partnership, One Financial Place and Exchange Tower Ltd. for their support.
Discovery Walks name and logo are official marks of the City of Toronto. TO UPTOWN DISCOVER WALK
DUNDAS “Walking can reduce the risk of SQUARE TRINITY developing heart disease.” LARRY SEFTON SQUARE PARK Active Living Canada and Toronto Public Health 1 N
NATHAN CAMPBELL PHILIPS 3 HOUSE 2 SQUARE
CLOUD GARDENS ST. JAMES’ PARK COURTHOUSE FIRST CANADIAN SQUARE METRO HALL PLACE 4 PARK PARKETTE 5 SCULPTURE GARDEN 6 SIMCOE PARK BERCZY ISABELLA 7 PARK VALANCY ★ ELINE—1793 CRAWFORD RIO SHOR KE ONTA NAL LA PARK ORIGI
UNION STATION 8 PARKETTE
BOBBIE 9 OLYMPIC ROSENFELD GARDENS 10 PARK ROUNDHOUSE PARK
WATERFRONT TRAIL HARBOURFRONT
POINTS OF INTEREST LAKE ONTARIO ❶ Toronto City Hall ❷ Osgoode Hall ❸ Old Toronto City Hall 6 minutes walking time (approximate) ❹ St. James’ Cathedral 400 m (approximate) ❺ St. Lawrence Hall ❻ St. Lawrence Market This walk is approximately 6 km long with a continuous walking ❼ C.B.C. Broadcast Centre time of about 2 hours (minimum). ❽ Union Station If you walk this route at a brisk ACCESSIBILITY: The 6 km (approximate) route has a ➒ CN Tower combination of level access with some moderate slopes and pace, you will burn approximately a hard-paved surface. It is recommended to travel this route 400 calories! ➓ SkyDome in a counter clock-wise direction.
THE HIKERS’ CODE REMEMBER FOR MORE INFORMATION ON: • Do not disturb wildlife • WalkThis walk involves involves stairs stairs LEGEND ❶ Toronto City Hall self-guided walking • Keep dogs on a leash • Walking surface is hard brochures available at information desk, Discovery Walk Path Views • Be cautious when pavement main floor – (416) 338-0338 crossing roads • Not all steps and paths are ❷ Osgoode Hall guided tours- Stairs • Leave flowers and plants lighted and cleared ❻ (416) 327-5079 Connecting/Side Trails for others to enjoy of ice and snow City of Toronto’s Market Gallery with changing historical exhibits in Toronto’s Information Sign Subway • Wear suitable clothing • Use at your own risk original 19th century municipal council • Walk with someone — chambers- (416) 392-7604 it’s safer and more fun ❼ C.B.C. Broadcast Centre guided walking Caution ★ Suggested start tours- (416) 205-8605 when crossing and/or end point
Given the large number of attractions, you may wish to walk only a portion of the route at any one time Food, washrooms and telephones are readily available along this walk.