Toronto’s Best Parks (That Aren’t Trinity Bellwoods!)
Posted on February 22, 2022
Ah, February. The month where the sad reality of winter truly sets in. This is the time of year when I start to daydream about the warmer days of summer, which now feel so distant.
Fond memories of getting ice cream, biking, swimming at the beach, the smell of sunscreen… and if you live in Toronto like me, you probably spend a lot of time escaping the heat of the city in one of the city’s many parks. Alone or with friends, you can find me at a park pretty much every day in the summer, reading, enjoying a cold drink, or having a picnic. And there are so many great Toronto parks to explore! I know we all love Trinity Bellwoods, but sometimes I just want to go somewhere that isn’t completely packed with people (remember those passive aggressive social distancing circles?).
Since I’m feeling so nostalgic for those lazy park days, I decided to compile this list of Toronto’s best parks (that aren’t Trinity Bellwoods!), definitively ranked (by me!).
(Note: most of these are located in the West End, as I’m less familiar with the East End!)
5. Sunnyside Park
Location: 6/10
Vibes: 9/10
View: 10/10
Accessibility: Bathroom
Group Hangout or Solo: Group
Sunnyside is my favourite waterfront park. There’s a small sandy beach, and a grassy area too. While I probably wouldn’t want to swim in Lake Ontario, it’s a beautiful and relaxing place to watch the sunset with a friend. If you take the Queen streetcar, you’ll have to walk on a pedestrian bridge over the highway to access the park, which also has a nice view of the city.
4. Riverdale Park
Location: 7/10
Vibes: 9/10
View: 10/10
Accessibility: Bathroom
Group Hangout or Solo: Both!
Riverdale Park is hands down the best spot in the city to watch the sunset. It would be a great place for a date, or to go to with a group of friends. You just can’t beat the view of the city from the park’s massive hill. A perfect place for a main character moment.
3. Grange Park
Location: 9/10
Vibes: 6/10
View: 7/10
Group Hangout or Solo: Group
Nestled between OCAD and the AGO, Grange Park is one of my favourite downtown parks. It’s super convenient to get to, and provides some nice shade in the city to read a book or meet up with a friend on a hot day. Grab some takeout from Chinatown or Queen West and bring it here for a great evening.
2. High Park
Location: 6/10
Vibes: 9/10
View: 9/10
Accessibility: Bathroom
Group Hangout or Solo: Both!
I fell in love with High Park the first time I went there. It’s massive, gorgeous, and the perfect escape from the city. I started going there by myself to read and take pictures, and with groups to have elaborate picnics. With tons of trails, a large pond, gardens, endless areas to picnic and a zoo, there’s so much to explore! My only quips with High Park are that it takes a while to get to if you’re not in the West End (I prefer to take the Queen West streetcar to access the south end, rather than the subway), and the squirrels are HUGE and SCARY. Seriously, be careful if you have food with you. I’m not joking.
1. Bickford Park
Image Credit: The New Yorker
Location: 8/10
Vibes: 10/10
View: 5/10
Accessibility: Bathroom
Group Hangout or Solo: Both!
Bickford Park is my favourite park in the city! I am a bit biased, because I live nearby, but this park is just perfect for a relaxing summer day or evening. Often busy with groups of friends having picnics in the summer, and you can sometimes even catch live music here. There’s a dog park, and a baseball diamond. I love to sit on the hill and people watch, or read a book in the afternoon under the huge willow tree. There’s also a gelato place across the street!
Here’s to manifesting lots of dreamy park days this summer!
