City of Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation

The Lost Stations mark the locations of several historical Beltline railway stations. Share your feedback on the designs for the Forest Hill Lost Station in an online survey by September 17, 2024. https://lnkd.in/gMGzcGpY In the early 1890s, the Belt Line Railway connected new suburbs to downtown in a circular route around the city. Today, it is known as the Beltline Trail, a popular 4.5-kilometre tree-lined corridor enjoyed by all. Two new interpretive installations are being added along the trail to commemorate the Belt Line Railway as a part of Toronto’s Heritage. The Fairbank commemorative station will be located west of Dufferin Street, and the Forest Hill Lost Station will be located at Bathurst Street. The design for each installation will be determined with the help of community feedback.

September 16 -21 is Toronto Public Service Week! We wanted to take this opportunity to showcase some of our passionate staff whose hard work and dedication help make Toronto a great place to live and work, starting with Alicia who works as a Community Recreation Programmer in Etobicoke. The City of Toronto is the largest provider of recreation programs for people of all ages, skill levels and interests. By offering low-cost and affordable recreation programs to Toronto residents, individuals of all ages can enjoy a healthy and active lifestyle. Alicia’s journey into the Toronto Public Service started when she began taking swimming lessons at Memorial Pool as a child. She then applied to become a lifeguard and is now an Aquatics Community Recreation Programmer at that same pool. In her role, she helps coordinate aquatic programs such as swimming lessons, lane swims, fitness classes and more so that they are safe, enjoyable and welcoming and meet the needs of the community. Alicia loves working in her community and her role contributes to making your Toronto a vibrant and prosperous city. Thank you, Alicia, and thank you to all City of Toronto staff. Love, Toronto. 💙 See Alicia's full video, here: https://lnkd.in/gZ4uWzB4

Join us tomorrow from 12 pm - 3 pm with the City of Toronto and our project partners to celebrate the official opening of Leslie Lookout Park at 12 Leslie Street! Come and enjoy family-friendly activities including a DJ, face painting, sand sculpting, play mobile and a popsicle cart. We hope to see you there! https://lnkd.in/geEWKN5s #YourCityYourPortLands #PortLands #Toronto #UrbanBeach #TorontoParks

Moss Park Arena is one of eight indoor ice arenas operated by a board of management. They provide indoor ice facilities to local neighbourhood citizens, organizations and user groups. The Board is looking for individuals with a background in financial management, marketing, or non-profit sector experience. Learn more and apply by October 17 at: https://lnkd.in/dcyBdZQ

The Lost Stations mark the locations of several historical Beltline railway stations. Share your feedback on the designs for the Forest Hill Lost Station in an online survey by September 17, 2024. https://lnkd.in/gMGzcGpY In the early 1890s, the Belt Line Railway connected new suburbs to downtown in a circular route around the city. Today, it is known as the Beltline Trail, a popular 4.5-kilometre tree-lined corridor enjoyed by all. Two new interpretive installations are being added along the trail to commemorate the Belt Line Railway as a part of Toronto’s Heritage. The Fairbank commemorative station will be located west of Dufferin Street, and the Forest Hill Lost Station will be located at Bathurst Street. The design for each installation will be determined with the help of community feedback.

Welcome to Aster season! Ontario is home to over 30 different native species of Asters adapted to the wide range of habitats found in the province. This means that no matter what growing conditions you have in your local park, garden or balcony containers, there is likely a native Aster that will suit them just fine. Native Asters provide a wide array of ecological benefits. 🌼 Acting as host plants for over 100 different butterfly and moth species, meaning butterflies and moths lay their eggs on the plants, which feed the hungry caterpillars that emerge. This also benefits the numerous bird species which raise their young on a diet primarily of insects. 🌼 Many Asters bloom in the late summer and fall, when other flowers are less prolific, offering a crucial food source for pollinators before they go into hibernation (like Bumblebee Queens, Bombus spp.) or migrate great distances (like Monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus). Some Asters, such as New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) will bloom through the late fall until hard frosts hit repeatedly. 🌼 There are multiple species of native bees that are Aster specialists, meaning they can only feed upon members of the Aster family, making Asters a pillar of biodiversity in our local ecosystems. Here are 7 of the many native Asters blooming around Toronto. Image 1: Calico Aster (Aster lateriflorus) blooming at Milne Hollow, in the Charles Sauriol Conservation Area. Image 2: New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) blooming at Guildwood Park. Image 3: Smooth Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) flowering in Milne Hollow. Image 4: Flat Top Aster (Doellingeria umbellata) flowering at Milne Hollow. Image 5: Sky Blue Aster (Aster oolentangiensis) flowering at Milne Hollow. Image 6: Large-Leaved Aster (Eurybia macrophylla) blooming in an East York garden. Image 7: Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) flowering in the Don Valley Brick Works Park. #Torontonativeplants

We recently partnered with Golf Town Come Out and Play Junior Girls Golf Camp at Humber Valley Golf Course supporting opportunities to increase participation and create a legacy that breaks down barriers in golf. Check out the recap of the camp.

Scarborough has recently opened one of Toronto’s largest parks with breathtaking views. Beare Hill Park, located near Finch Ave East and Pickering Townline, was once the site of the Beare Road Landfill, which operated from 1967 to 1982. After the landfill closed, it was capped and graded, vegetation began to regrow. Over a decade of planning and collaboration transformed the closed landfill into a public park, and in 2022 the City opened the park to the public. Beare Hill Park: https://lnkd.in/gyfi9tfU During 40+ years of natural and managed restoration, the site developed rich meadow communities. Today, these habitats provide a home for ground-nesting species at risk, the Bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) and Eastern Meadowlark (Sturnella magna). Forest and wetland habitats are also present. Restoration included planting native trees and shrubs and invasive plant control. One of the goals of management is to preserve the grassy meadow habitat. The peak of the hill is 60 m high – not the highest elevation in Toronto, but the highest point in Scarborough. The views from the summit can be spectacular. On clear days, visitors can see Pickering, Scarborough, downtown Toronto, North York, and Markham. Also visible in the near distance is the vast expanse of the Rouge National Urban Park. Stay on trails at all times to avoid disturbing natural vegetation and nesting animals. As with other natural hiking trails, pack out any waste and deposit in the parking lot receptacles. Descriptive transcript: City of Toronto staff, Lisa McLean, introduces Beare Hill Park in Scarborough, standing before a large parks sign. Lisa speaks about how the park was once a municipal landfill, now converted to a natural area park with meadow, forest, and wetland communities. The video shows drone footage of the park, alternating with close-ups of bees on wildflowers, pans of natural vegetation, and footage of park users walking and cycling on trails. The video ends with panoramic views from the peak of the hill.

🧩 The final pieces of the Leslie Lookout Park puzzle are in place! Toronto’s new urban beach and park in the Port Lands has Muskoka chairs and picnic tables to make your visit more enjoyable - and comfortable! Join us on Saturday September 14 for our grand opening celebration and try them out for yourself. #YourCityYourPortLands #toronto #urbanbeach #torontoparks City of Toronto CCxA Arup gh3* UCC Group Inc. Dougan & Associates

25 degrees and sunny? Which way to the beach? This weekend, Leslie Lookout Park is officially open! Join us for the grand opening celebration. On Saturday, September 14, from 12 to 3 p.m., come check out the skyline views, touch grass with a sand sculpture workshop, play with the PlayMobile, and vibe to live DJ beats. Leslie Lookout Park transforms an industrial landscape into a new recreation hub that will have us all channeling our inner photographer. 📍12 Leslie St. (right by Tommy Thompson Park) Pro tip: Parking’s tight, so hop on the TTC or ride your bike CreateTO