How fortunate could I be to have my B & B right next to High Park?  Over 399 acres of almost wilderness right in the middle of the city.  No wonder Toronto is called a City within a Park!

Almost a third of the park is still in its natural state, with unusual and rare plants, like woodland ferns, cup plants and wild blue lupines.  My almost 3 hour walk around the park was finished off on the park train - when I said 'daddy take me home, my feet are killing me!' lol 

 I was trying to figure out why I took the photo of that tree branch when my daughter said - 'look at the squirrels!' and then I remembered - 0h brother eh? lol

This was Day 1 of my many walks throughout Toronto and the surrounding area...

High Park offers year-round attractions and amentities, including historic Colborne Lodge. Its also home to the well-known Dream in High Park. This favorite open-air theatrical event has become a tradition for Torontonians and visitors alike, each summer. House, a volunteer built playground, animal paddocks, sports fields, an outdoor ice rink, and the beautifully landscaped Hillside Gardens.

I remember seeing Sylvie's pics of High Park - especially the Swans in a post she did last year - who'd have thought I'd be seeing them for myself!

Grenadier Pond is at the western edge of the park. It is named after the local Town of York garrison of the 1800s and their use of the pond for fishing. There are two local myths circulating about the Pond. One is that British Grenadiers fell through its thin ice when crossing to defend the city in the War of 1812. Other myths include that the pond is 'bottomless', that is, its depth cannot be measured due to the amount of mud. Fishing remains a popular pastime. Fish caught in the pond are safe to eat, and fishing derbies and casting contests have been held there.

In 1836, John George Howard purchased a 160-acre property in the County of York, to the west of Toronto, for a sheep farm, at the cost of $1,000.00. ^] It was here that Howard designed and built Colborne Lodge^] as the residence for himself and his wife Jemima Frances Meikle. The Howards named their property 'High Park' as it was situated on the highest point of land along the Humber Bay shoreline. After a successful career as architect, engineer and land surveyor to the City of Toronto, Howard retired here in 1855. 

In 1873, Howard and his wife agreed to convey their country property to the City of Toronto. There were several conditions to the conveyance, including that the Howards continue to live at their residence, no alcohol ever be served in the park, and that the City hold the park "for the free use, benefit and enjoyment of the Citizens of Toronto for ever and to be called and designated at all times thereafter High Park".. Howard received a lifetime pension from the City in exchange for the property.

 How cool is this?

I'd love to see this park in the winter time!

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 Map of High Park

More Posts on My Toronto Trip

Sylvie Conde - Toronto Real Estate Expert - and Tour Guide Extraordinaire! (My Toronto Trip Part I)

Muskoka, Severn and Georgian Bay, Ontario - a Visit with my Cousin ( My Toronto Visit Part II)

From small town Coldwater to Victorian B & B in High Park ( My Toronto Trip Part III)

Indian Grove B & B ~ High Park, Toronto (My Toronto Trip Part IV) 

High Park - Toronto's Jewel of a Park - (My Toronto Visit Part V)

Niagara Falls- Canada's Horseshoe Falls ~Wonder of Wonders ~ (My Toronto Trip Part VI)

The American Niagara Falls ~ Yes there are Two! (My Toronto Trip Part VII) 

Getting Close Up and Personal on the Maid of the Mist - Niagara Falls - My Toronto Trip Part VIII

The Sky's the Limit - Canadian International Airshow - More on My Toronto Trip

If I Ran to the Zoo - The Toronto Zoo - ( My Toronto trip ) 

Hollywood of the North - Toronto's - The Distillery ( my Toronto Series)  

If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property in Toronto - please give my dear friend and Uber Realtor  Sylvie Conde of Sutton Group a call at 416) 564-7431  ~ its her home town and she knows it and Real Estate and Toronto like the back of her hand ~ you'll be in good hands I promise!                                                

If you or someone you know is thinking of buying or selling property in, Chilliwack, Hope, Abbotsford, Langley or anywhere in the Fraser Valley Area of B.C. - or if you would like more information please give Liz  Moras of Landmark Realty Chilliwack a call at- 604-799-0459 or e-mail at lizmoras@gmail.com.     

Copyright © 2009 By Liz Moras, All Rights Reserved. All photos by Liz Moras. All information provided by this author is only an opinion, it is not guaranteed, may be based on information collected from several sources, and may be time sensitive.  It is not necessarily representative of the opinions of Landmark Realty Chwk. Ltd..