Native Torontonians actually remember the enormous, Coney Island-esque waterfront playfield of Sunnyside Beach, and younger Torontonians have potentially heard stories about it. When the Sunnyside Amusement Park and Bathing Pavilion opened for business in 1922 on Parkdale's beaches, this neighbourhood west of downtown instantly became the place to be at for a generation of Torontonians.
Sadly, Sunnyside was shut down in 1956 by the town in order to make room for the Gardiner Expressway and a revamped Lakeshore Boulevard. As a consequence, Parkdale was cut off from the lake and its prominence took a major depression.
Of course, Parkdale 's story began long time before the occurence of Sunnyside Park in the district. The Town of Parkdale was established in 1812 when a great parcel of land was given to James Brock, the cousin of Sir Isaac Brock, in lieu of salary. Nevertheless the development began only after Brock's death in 1830, when his widow Lucy Brock sold the lands that became the most important part of Parkdale to John Henry Dunn and William Gwynne.
By the late 1800s, Parkdale has changed into one of Toronto's most high end and desirable addresses, an elite residential suburb. Parkdale's standing as an independent hamlet was controversial at the time; local legend has it that gypsies were signed on as local residents so as to provide enough numbers to qualify Parkdale as independent. Parkdale was ultimately annexed into the City of Toronto in 1889.
Today's Parkdale
If you pass through Parkdale now, you may realize it is one of the most varied areas of the town, a brief neighborhood for many newbies to Canada with a mixture of low and high income working class. Low-rent studio complexes and its proximity to the downtown core have attracted plenty of newcommers to settle here.
Through the years, many different waves of immigrants like Caribbean, Vietnamese, Filipino, Tamil, Chinese and Hungarian (Roma) have settled in the area. The area is currently home to one of the largest Tibetan diaspora outside of India and Nepal. The excitement and character that Parkdale is famous for is partly because of all of these immigrant communities.
Unlike Regent Park, which is found on the east side of downtown, the glorious area of Parkdale has been neglected, and there hasn't been any urban renewal projects in the works for a long time. Nevertheless, there are many indications of revitalization in the area, leading to a serious rise in property values. The new studios and townhomes of King West and Liberty Village at Parkdale's doorstep not only attract the latest generation of owners, but also drive improvements to Parkdale's commercial stretch.
Former hostels like the Drake and The Gladstone have been changed into fancy city nightlife spots. One of 2 surviving properties from the Sunnyside Entertainment Park, The Palais Royale Dancehall on Lakeshore Boulevard, has had its grandeur restored, with recent renovations turning it into a swank lakeside event facility. The Roncesvalles Hamlet, a neighbourhood much rising in popularity, resides in the western border of Parkdale.
Sadly, Sunnyside was shut down in 1956 by the town in order to make room for the Gardiner Expressway and a revamped Lakeshore Boulevard. As a consequence, Parkdale was cut off from the lake and its prominence took a major depression.
Of course, Parkdale 's story began long time before the occurence of Sunnyside Park in the district. The Town of Parkdale was established in 1812 when a great parcel of land was given to James Brock, the cousin of Sir Isaac Brock, in lieu of salary. Nevertheless the development began only after Brock's death in 1830, when his widow Lucy Brock sold the lands that became the most important part of Parkdale to John Henry Dunn and William Gwynne.
By the late 1800s, Parkdale has changed into one of Toronto's most high end and desirable addresses, an elite residential suburb. Parkdale's standing as an independent hamlet was controversial at the time; local legend has it that gypsies were signed on as local residents so as to provide enough numbers to qualify Parkdale as independent. Parkdale was ultimately annexed into the City of Toronto in 1889.
Today's Parkdale
If you pass through Parkdale now, you may realize it is one of the most varied areas of the town, a brief neighborhood for many newbies to Canada with a mixture of low and high income working class. Low-rent studio complexes and its proximity to the downtown core have attracted plenty of newcommers to settle here.
Through the years, many different waves of immigrants like Caribbean, Vietnamese, Filipino, Tamil, Chinese and Hungarian (Roma) have settled in the area. The area is currently home to one of the largest Tibetan diaspora outside of India and Nepal. The excitement and character that Parkdale is famous for is partly because of all of these immigrant communities.
Unlike Regent Park, which is found on the east side of downtown, the glorious area of Parkdale has been neglected, and there hasn't been any urban renewal projects in the works for a long time. Nevertheless, there are many indications of revitalization in the area, leading to a serious rise in property values. The new studios and townhomes of King West and Liberty Village at Parkdale's doorstep not only attract the latest generation of owners, but also drive improvements to Parkdale's commercial stretch.
Former hostels like the Drake and The Gladstone have been changed into fancy city nightlife spots. One of 2 surviving properties from the Sunnyside Entertainment Park, The Palais Royale Dancehall on Lakeshore Boulevard, has had its grandeur restored, with recent renovations turning it into a swank lakeside event facility. The Roncesvalles Hamlet, a neighbourhood much rising in popularity, resides in the western border of Parkdale.
About the Author:
Article prepared by Heather Hadden, Toronto Realtor and Toronto neighbourhoods expert.
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