Long-time Torontonians certainly remember the massive, Coney Island-esque waterfront playground of Sunnyside Beach, and younger Torontonians have probably heard tales about it. When the Sunnyside Entertainment Park and Showering Pavilion opened for business in 1922 on Parkdale's beaches, this community west of downtown immediately 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 refurbished Lakeshore Boulevard. As a consequence, Parkdale was cut off from the lake and its eminence took a major downturn.
Of course, Parkdale 's story began long time before the occurence of Sunnyside Park in the district. The Hamlet of Parkdale was established in 1812 when a great parcel of land was given to James Brock, the cousin of Sir Isaac Brock, in place of salary. However , the development started only after Brock's death in 1830, when his widow Lucy Brock sold the lands that became the major part of Parkdale to John Henry Dunn and William Gwynne.
By the late 1800s, Parkdale has turned into one of Toronto's most upmarket and fascinating addresses, a unparalleled home suburb. Parkdale's status as an independent village was questionable at the time; local legend has it that gypsies were signed as local residents in order to provide enough numbers to qualify Parkdale as independent. Parkdale was finally annexed into the Town of Toronto in 1889.
Today's Parkdale
If you pass thru Parkdale now, you can realize it is one of the most diverse areas of the city, a transient neighborhood for many new entrants to Canada with a mix of high and low earnings working class. Low-rent apartment complexes and its vicinity to the central core have attracted lots of immigrants to settle here.
Through the years, many various 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 vibrancy and character that Parkdale is known for is partly thanks to all of these immigrant communities.
Unlike Regent Park, which is located on the eastern side of downtown, the smashing area of Parkdale has been neglected, and there has not been any urban renewal projects in the works for rather a long time. Nonetheless, there are several signs of regeneration in the area, leading to a significant rise in property values. The new lofts and townhomes of King West and Freedom Town at Parkdale's stoop not only attract a new generation of householders, but also drive enhancements to Parkdale's commercial stretch.
Previous hotels such as The Drake and The Gladstone have been modified into cool urban night spots. One of two surviving buildings from the Sunnyside Amusement Park, The Palais Royale Ballroom on Lakeshore Boulevard, has had its grandeur revived, with the latest restorations turning it into a swank lakeside event facility. The Roncesvalles Village, a community very much on the rise in appreciation, lives in the western periphery of Parkdale.
Sadly, Sunnyside was shut down in 1956 by the town in order to make room for the Gardiner Expressway and a refurbished Lakeshore Boulevard. As a consequence, Parkdale was cut off from the lake and its eminence took a major downturn.
Of course, Parkdale 's story began long time before the occurence of Sunnyside Park in the district. The Hamlet of Parkdale was established in 1812 when a great parcel of land was given to James Brock, the cousin of Sir Isaac Brock, in place of salary. However , the development started only after Brock's death in 1830, when his widow Lucy Brock sold the lands that became the major part of Parkdale to John Henry Dunn and William Gwynne.
By the late 1800s, Parkdale has turned into one of Toronto's most upmarket and fascinating addresses, a unparalleled home suburb. Parkdale's status as an independent village was questionable at the time; local legend has it that gypsies were signed as local residents in order to provide enough numbers to qualify Parkdale as independent. Parkdale was finally annexed into the Town of Toronto in 1889.
Today's Parkdale
If you pass thru Parkdale now, you can realize it is one of the most diverse areas of the city, a transient neighborhood for many new entrants to Canada with a mix of high and low earnings working class. Low-rent apartment complexes and its vicinity to the central core have attracted lots of immigrants to settle here.
Through the years, many various 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 vibrancy and character that Parkdale is known for is partly thanks to all of these immigrant communities.
Unlike Regent Park, which is located on the eastern side of downtown, the smashing area of Parkdale has been neglected, and there has not been any urban renewal projects in the works for rather a long time. Nonetheless, there are several signs of regeneration in the area, leading to a significant rise in property values. The new lofts and townhomes of King West and Freedom Town at Parkdale's stoop not only attract a new generation of householders, but also drive enhancements to Parkdale's commercial stretch.
Previous hotels such as The Drake and The Gladstone have been modified into cool urban night spots. One of two surviving buildings from the Sunnyside Amusement Park, The Palais Royale Ballroom on Lakeshore Boulevard, has had its grandeur revived, with the latest restorations turning it into a swank lakeside event facility. The Roncesvalles Village, a community very much on the rise in appreciation, lives in the western periphery of Parkdale.
About the Author:
Article prepared by Heather Hadden, Toronto Realtor and Toronto neighbourhoods expert.