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.
Unfortunately, Sunnyside was closed down in 1956 by the city so as to make room for the Gardiner Expressway and a remodeled Lakeshore Boulevard. As a result, Parkdale was cut off from the lake and its greatness took a major recession.
Naturally, Parkdale 's history started long before the presence of Sunnyside Park in the area. The Village of Parkdale was established in 1812 when a great parcel of land was granted to James Brock, the cousin of Sir Isaac Brock, instead of income. But the development commenced only after Brock's death in 1830, when his widow Lucy Brock sold the lands that became the main part of Parkdale to John Henry Dunn and William Gwynne.
By the late 1800s, Parkdale has become one of Toronto's most upscale and desirable addresses, a top-flight residential suburb. Parkdale's standing as an independent town was debatable at the time; local legend has it that gypsies were signed up as local residents so as to provide enough numbers to qualify Parkdale as independent. Parkdale was eventually annexed into the City 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.
Former hostels like the Drake and The Gladstone have been transformed into excentric city nightlife spots. One of 2 surviving houses 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 Town, a locale much rising in renown, resides in the western edge of Parkdale.
Unfortunately, Sunnyside was closed down in 1956 by the city so as to make room for the Gardiner Expressway and a remodeled Lakeshore Boulevard. As a result, Parkdale was cut off from the lake and its greatness took a major recession.
Naturally, Parkdale 's history started long before the presence of Sunnyside Park in the area. The Village of Parkdale was established in 1812 when a great parcel of land was granted to James Brock, the cousin of Sir Isaac Brock, instead of income. But the development commenced only after Brock's death in 1830, when his widow Lucy Brock sold the lands that became the main part of Parkdale to John Henry Dunn and William Gwynne.
By the late 1800s, Parkdale has become one of Toronto's most upscale and desirable addresses, a top-flight residential suburb. Parkdale's standing as an independent town was debatable at the time; local legend has it that gypsies were signed up as local residents so as to provide enough numbers to qualify Parkdale as independent. Parkdale was eventually annexed into the City 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.
Former hostels like the Drake and The Gladstone have been transformed into excentric city nightlife spots. One of 2 surviving houses 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 Town, a locale much rising in renown, resides in the western edge of Parkdale.
About the Author:
Article prepared by Heather Hadden, Toronto Realtor and Toronto neighbourhoods expert.
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