GETTING THERE AND BACK Explore Uptown Toronto! Discover Many of these parks and gardens have been created You can reach the suggested start and end point on how parks, gardens and streetscapes over underground shopping concourses, parking lots public transit by taking the YONGE subway to DISCOVERY WALKS link Uptown’s public institutions, and the subway, where a minimum of five feet of soil is Wellesley Station. Other subway stations providing provided for the healthy growth of trees. Opportunities close access include Bay, College, Dundas, residential neighbourhoods and to stop, look and listen are provided in these green Yonge/Bloor and Museum. commercial areas. spaces, most of which have seating, public art, water elements and nearby cafes and shopping. This Uptown Discovery Walk leads you through neighbourhoods just north of the City’s core. Hidden A variety of wildlife finds habitat and refuge in these among the low-rise and high-rise residential, same green spaces, particularly during spring and fall commercial and institutional buildings, you will when birds and some butterflies are migrating. UPTOWNUPTOWN discover a rich variety of parks, gardens and Species seen most often throughout the year are streetscapes. Since the 1960s, many of these parks and pigeons, squirrels and racoons. gardens have been created through building TORONTOTORONTO demolitions, land exchanges, street As you continue your exploration, you closures, lease agreements, land will encounter trees, shrubs and Allan Gardens One In A Series of Self-Guided Walks purchases and the City’s flowers growing along sidewalks development approval process and in planters on both public FOR MORE INFO for major projects. and private land. Trees are For walking brochures on this and other Discovery invaluable assets in Walks, please call Parks and Recreation Information at These parks and gardens improving the quality of (416) 338-0338. For more information on area history, have design features urban life by reducing air inquire at the City Hall, Yorkville, Parliament Street or ranging from traditional pollution, creating shade, Toronto Reference Library branches of the Toronto to contemporary, from providing wildlife with Public Library. pastoral to urban. Visit food and habitat as well Discovery Walks is a program of self-guided walks two of the City’s as beautifying that links City ravines, parks, gardens, beaches and traditional parks—Allan neighbourhoods. neighbourhoods. Other Discovery Walks include: Gardens and Queen’s Park. Central Ravines, Belt Line and Gardens; Don Valley At Allan Gardens, admire the Parks, gardens and streetscapes Hills and Dales; Western Ravines and Beaches; extensive horticultural displays provide dramatic contrasts with Northern Ravines and Gardens; Eastern Ravine & both outdoors and inside the surrounding historic and Beaches; Garrison Creek; Humber River, Old Mill & ornate greenhouses. Queen’s Park contemporary buildings. Note the wide Marshes; and Downtown Toronto. provides a picturesque forested setting for the variety of building materials used. Provincial Parliament buildings. The more Devonian Square Photo by Brian Byrnes WORKING IN PARTNERSHIP contemporary parks and gardens include quiet Murals, sculptures and statues located in the The City of Toronto would like to thank the Toronto neighbourhood meeting spots, an award-winning park parks, gardens and streetscapes along this Walk are Public Library, Toronto Field Naturalists, Toronto (e.g. Village of Yorkville Park) and outdoor recreation representative of the impressive collection of public art Transit Commission, Heritage Toronto, Toronto Village of Yorkville Park Photo by Hiro Nakashima facilities. You will visit extensively landscaped that embodies the spirit of Toronto. Public Health, Toronto Heart Health Partnership, institutional grounds and the remains of a ravine University of Toronto, St. Michael’s College, Ryerson where Taddle Creek once flowed but is now buried in On this urban adventure, many hidden treasures, Polytechnic University, Ontario Realty Corporation a sewer. sights and sounds will be revealed to you. Discover and G.W.L. Realty Advisors Inc. for their support. Uptown Toronto, the “City within a Park!” Discovery Walks name and logo are official marks of the City of Toronto. VILLAGE OF YORKVILLE PARK “Walking strengthens bones and helps prevent or control bones from becoming brittle and fragile 1 (i.e. osteoporosis).” N Active Living Canada and Toronto Public Health 2 CHARLES/ISABELLA PARKETTE 4 3 DUNDONALD STREET PARKETTE QUEEN’S CAWTHRA SQUARE PARK PAUL KANE # HOUSE/PARK 5 6 PROPOSED PARKS ALEXANDER MONTAGUE STREET PARKETTE PARKETTE 7 COLLEGE POINTS OF INTEREST PARK 8 ❶ Royal Ontario Museum ❷ McGILL/ Philosopher’s Walk GRANBY PARKETTE ❸ University of Toronto ❹ St. Michael’s College ALLAN GARDENS RYERSON ❺ Ontario Provincial Legislature COMMUNITY PARKS ❻ Provincial Government Offices ❼ Toronto Police Headquarters 9 ❽ Allan Gardens Conservatory DEVONIAN SQUARE Ryerson Polytechnic University 5 minutes walking time DUNDAS/BAY DUNDAS (approximate) PARKETTE SQUARE 300 m (approximate) ACCESSIBILITY: The 7 km (approximate) route has a FOR MORE INFORMATION ON: combination of level access with some moderate slopes ❶ Royal Ontario Museum guided walking and a hard-paved surface. This walk is approximately 7 km long ❸ tours – (416) 586-8000 with a continuous walking time of University of Toronto guided walking tours 1 – (416) 978-5000 about 2 /2 hours (minimum). If you ❺ walk this route at a brisk pace, you THE HIKERS’ CODE REMEMBER Ontario Provincial Legislature guided walking tours – (416) 325-7500 will burn approximately 500 calories! • Do not disturb wildlife • Walking surfaces vary ❻ Government of Ontario Art Collection • Keep dogs on a leash and can include hard (on the first two floors of and outside the • Be cautious when pavement, woodchips, MacDonald Block, Provincial Government EGEND crossing roads grass, limestone fines, Office) L sand and/or bare earth ❼ • Leave flowers and plants Toronto Police Museum – while walk-ins Discovery Walk Path Caution when crossing for others to enjoy • Not all steps and paths are welcome, groups larger than 5 must call ahead – (416) 808-7020 • Wear suitable clothing are lighted and cleared Connecting/Side Trails Subway of ice and snow ❽ Allan Gardens Conservatory events – • Walk with someone — (416) 392-7288 Information Sign Suggested start it’s safer and more fun • Use at your own risk # Ryerson Polytechnic University guided and/or end point walking tours – (416) 979-5030 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..