
Riverdale Park, Toronto
Riverdale Park is a large park spanning the Lower Don River in Toronto, between Cabbagetown to the west and Broadview Avenue in Riverdale to the east. The park was originally owned by John Sadding, an estate manager and clerk for John Graves Simcoe, Governor of Upper Canada. His cabin is located south of the park on the Canadian National Exhibition grounds, and was built in 1840. Originally, the site was proposed for a 40,000 seat stadium, but the plan was abandoned due to the strong objections of local alderman, John Sewell.
The park has a soccer field, an ice rink, running track, tennis courts, two baseball diamonds, three playing fields and a swimming pool on the east side, and a field house with restrooms and two sports fields on the west side. The eastern slope of the park was used as a landfill in the 1920s but was later planted with trees which were a part of the event hosted by Task Forca to Bring Back the Don. Crossing the Don Valley Parkway is a footbridge connecting the two sides of the valley and a north-south bicycle trail following the river. In 1790s, this bridge provided access to Eli Playter’s mill and property. Elizabeth Simcoe depicted this bridge in her watercolor painting called "Playter’s Bridge near York".
The Bridgepoint Hospital and Sun Yat-Sen monument are located at the south-east corner of the park, and to its west is the city-operated Riverdale Farm. Besides being used for recreation, it is also used by military for parades along with sports, and is a popular tobogganing site in the winter. In the summer, a free movie series take place in the park. Everyone is welcome! So, if you're in the area, feel free to bring a picnic, friends and family to enjoy great PG-rated films under the stars. All the shows start at dusk.
The park has a soccer field, an ice rink, running track, tennis courts, two baseball diamonds, three playing fields and a swimming pool on the east side, and a field house with restrooms and two sports fields on the west side. The eastern slope of the park was used as a landfill in the 1920s but was later planted with trees which were a part of the event hosted by Task Forca to Bring Back the Don. Crossing the Don Valley Parkway is a footbridge connecting the two sides of the valley and a north-south bicycle trail following the river. In 1790s, this bridge provided access to Eli Playter’s mill and property. Elizabeth Simcoe depicted this bridge in her watercolor painting called "Playter’s Bridge near York".
The Bridgepoint Hospital and Sun Yat-Sen monument are located at the south-east corner of the park, and to its west is the city-operated Riverdale Farm. Besides being used for recreation, it is also used by military for parades along with sports, and is a popular tobogganing site in the winter. In the summer, a free movie series take place in the park. Everyone is welcome! So, if you're in the area, feel free to bring a picnic, friends and family to enjoy great PG-rated films under the stars. All the shows start at dusk.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.
Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Toronto. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from iTunes App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.
Riverdale Park on Map
Sight Name: Riverdale Park
Sight Location: Toronto, Canada (See walking tours in Toronto)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Toronto, Canada (See walking tours in Toronto)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Toronto, Canada
Create Your Own Walk in Toronto
Creating your own self-guided walk in Toronto is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Toronto's Waterfront Walking Tour
Toronto is located on the shore of Lake Ontario and it is more than obvious that the locals, as well as visitors to the city, cherish and admire the alluring views of the lake. Toronto's waterfront is one of the most picturesque places for walking, but it is also a great destination for those in search of entertainment. This self-guided walking tour will reveal all the pearls strewn along the... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.7 Km or 2.3 Miles
Historical Buildings Walking Tour
Once an Anglo backwater, today's Toronto is the cultural and economic hub of English-speaking Canada. The city's architectural beauty is supplemented by its historical richness, with some of the buildings dating back as far as the late 18th century. This self-guided tour invites you to explore the most prominent of them, such as Gooderham, Daniel Brook Building, Massey Hall and others,... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles
Toronto Islands Walking Tour
The Toronto Islands is a chain of islands located in Lake Ontario, comprising three major islands (namely: Center Island, Algonquin or Sunfish Island, and Olympic Island) and several smaller ones, which collectively represent a great recreation destination set in a peaceful and joyful environment. Other than a great panoramic view of Toronto, the islands offer a wealth of attractions. To acquaint... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.3 Km or 2.1 Miles
Distillery District Walking Tour
The architectural treasure of Toronto's Distillery District dates back to 1859 as the site of the largest distillery in the British Empire. This former industrial complex is now a National Historic Site of Canada and represents a unique pocket of Victorian-era architecture, featuring the continent's best-preserved collection of cobblestone pathways and historic buildings housing... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 0.8 Km or 0.5 Miles
Cabbagetown Walking Tour
Once a small community of Irish immigrants and one of the poorest neighborhoods in Toronto, Cabbagetown is also one of the city's oldest districts, established in 1840, east of downtown. In 2004, it was declared a historic district and presently claims to be "the largest continuous area of preserved Victorian housing in North America". Attesting to this claim is Amelia Street... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.8 Km or 1.1 Miles
Toronto Introduction Walking Tour
Sprawling on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, the capital of the Canadian province of Ontario, Toronto, is a major metropolis renowned for its dynamic pace and high-rising skyline, incorporating both ultra-modern skyscrapers and historic architecture.
The area of present-day Toronto has been inhabited for thousands of years. Its first known settlers – the Wyandot (or Huron) people –... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
The area of present-day Toronto has been inhabited for thousands of years. Its first known settlers – the Wyandot (or Huron) people –... view more
Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 4.1 Km or 2.5 Miles
Useful Travel Guides for Planning Your Trip
The Epic Toronto Pub Crawl
There is no better way to see Toronto’s many different neighborhoods and get a literal taste of the Distillery District, the Esplanade, downtown, the Entertainment District and Yorkville. Plus you’ll learn a little about the bar and get its highlights at your fingertips so you’ll be in the...
Traveler's Guide to Toronto: 15 Authentic Canadian Products to Bring Home
Toronto may well not be the whole Canada, but no Canada is whole without Toronto! By far too many things, quintessentially Canadian, associate with this bustling city, from Niagara Falls to Ice Hockey to... to mention but a few. To mention them all, check out the list of some not-to-be-missed...