Neighbourhoods

The High Park Neighbourhood Guide

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Introduction to High Park Neighbourhood

As one of Toronto’s most historic, green, and vibrant communities, High Park is an incredibly desirable neighbourhood. With its rich culture and wealth of beautiful homes that date back to the late 19th century, the area is as character-filled as it is whimsical.

The community gets its name from the vast green space known as High Park, which is perched atop the elevated south-facing hill overlooking Lake Ontario. This picture-perfect part of the city boasts a hilly topography that originally required winding streets to accommodate easier travel for pedestrians and automobiles. Today, it contributes to the charm of the area—along with the enormous oak trees and public parks.

Interested in living in the beautiful, family-friendly neighbourhood of High Park? Here are the need-to-knows.

The Neighbours

Given all of its leafy-green outdoor spaces, it’s safe to say that High Park is a place that draws people who like the outdoors. That being said, there’s a wide range of residents in the community.

From the ultra-wealthy (who own many of the original, historic mansions in the High Park North area) to youthful students and artists (who make up the heart and soul of this vibrant community), residents appreciate this unique neighbourhood for all that it offers.

With lots of highly-regarded schools, High Park is also very family-oriented, especially for those with young children.

Schools in the area include:

  • Indian Road Crescent Junior Public School (JK – Gr. 6)
  • Annette Street Junior and Senior Public School (JK – Gr. 8)
  • High Park Alternative Junior School (JK – Gr. 8)
  • Keele Street Public School (JK – Gr. 8)
  • Western Technical-Commercial School (Gr. 9 – 12)
  • Humberside Collegiate Institute (Gr. 9 – 12)

Amenities

Sitting directly above one of the western-most sections of Toronto’s renowned Bloor Street, High Park offers a unique mix of independent local businesses – a major draw for the area. This vibrant stretch is filled with multi-cultural restaurants, trendy cafes, stylish boutiques, and vintage-shopping goldmines.

High Park’s close proximity to Bloor West Village also means that residents are just a short walk away from countless European delis, bakeries, and specialty food shops. Additionally, you’ll find artisanal boutiques, food stands, pubs, and patios scattered throughout the area.

Of course, High Park’s largest attraction is the park itself. Spanning across 400 acres of stunning public parkland, this huge green space has many amenities. They include flower gardens, fishing areas, playgrounds, an outdoor theatre, and numerous sporting facilities. Take a picnic blanket with you and spend the afternoon enjoying the beauty of the park. Make sure you also catch the Japanese Sakura Cherry trees when they’re in full bloom (their gorgeous cherry blossoms come out from late April to early May).

Getting Around

Avoiding having to drive in High Park is easy. Being so close to Bloor Street means the area is simultaneously walkable, bicycle-friendly, and transit-oriented.

The closest subway stops in the area are Dundas West, Keele, and High Park stations all along the Bloor-Danforth TTC line. Cyclists can avoid traffic almost altogether by biking or walking the Martin Goodman Trail to get downtown. If you are driving, the Queensway is conveniently located just five minutes away and connects to major highways like the Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard.

The Homes

Just like its residents, High Park boasts a wide variety of living spaces. While most of the properties are freehold and semi-detached homes, there are also several apartments and condo buildings in the area due to its proximity to the subway line.

A huge part of High Park’s charm is its dignified residential areas, which are rich with historical Toronto architecture from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of these Victorian, Edwardian, and Tudor-style homes have been recently converted into multi-unit dwellings.

Thanks to recent conversions, historical features like original red brick walls, French doors, hardwood floors, and fireplaces are accessible to renters as well as homeowners. The area also offers many newly-constructed condos that appeal to younger families and residents looking to get a foothold in this highly-desirable neighbourhood. Are you ready to find your perfect place in High Park?

Looking to find your dream home in High Park? We know the area inside and out, and we’d love to help! Get in touch to learn what’s available.