Apr 12, 2013

Cedarvale Park

Glen Cedar Bridge
So here we are at the end of the exact location of where the Kay Gardener Trail begins (or ends). Looking at the map at the corner of Allen Road and Eglinton Ave West, we decided to head southbound towards Eglinton to see where it would take us. 

I had this idea of going to Casa Loma, but it was so late in the afternoon, so we probably wouldn't get much time to spend in there, so we found ourselves on a street called Everden with some very architecturally unique homes on it.  Up ahead was some familiar Toronto Parks signage 'Cedarvale Park'.  I've never been before so with enough light left in the day, we headed on through and decided to continue south instead of backtracking.  

interesting architecture
This was a surprisingly large and beautiful find in Toronto.  It was bordered by steep hills with an almost valley like appearance with a deep ravine with steep sides.  There were a few people taking advantage of the low winds to fly kites.  Because of its proximity between the Beltline Trail in the north (where we had just come from) and the Nordheimer Ravine to the South, the Cedervale Park with his heavily used footpaths make a very large trail system through central Toronto.



Historically speaking (well you knew I would eventually come to it..), Ernest Hemingway often walked through here during his stay in Canada.  There was once an idea to building mansions here, but the Great Depression put a hold on that one.  The Glen Cedar bridge (seen below) was built during the Depression and was restored about 20 years ago from demolition.  There were plans to build an expressway through this park, but successful lobbyist prevented the construction project from moving forward.

I can just imagine Hemingway sitting under this tree..
With the awareness through the 2000s of the ecological impacts on the environment, the City of Toronto and other major cities and its people have changed their priorities to undertake re-naturalization projects instead. 
where's your boots cowboy?