Showing posts with label Rowntree Mills Park. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rowntree Mills Park. Show all posts

Jun 16, 2013

Rowntree Mills Park



Rowntree Mills Park is a very lovely portion of the Humber River Valley between Kipling and Islington Avenues.  The river winds its way under foot bridges and parallel along tree-lined trails and ends up in Lake Ontario.

There are some very lovely large green spaces in this park areas as well which would be great for family picnics or large corporate gatherings or fundraising events.  In fact you would think you would see tons of activity here on weekends.  Not quite.  You see in 2009 a City councillor had closed off this park from cars due to criminal activity and rowdy parties.  This decision was a difficult one, but the idea to reverse this decision is not coming anytime soon either.

However, there are some positive sides to having no motor traffic in a park.  For instance, as you make your way deeper into the park you will find more exclusionary places for some peace of mind.

You can still get here on foot or bicycle and some have witnessed deer sightings here.   I spotted a raccoon hiding out in a little spot under some bushes.  He (or she) appeared wet which I thought was strange as he was no where near any water, so figured he may have been injured.  I happen to find raccoons adorable as opposed to being pests, and finding a baby one was neat.  I was told to not go near it though and he didn't seem to be all that interested in having any personal human contact either. 

Rowntree Mills Park, like Raymore Park was damaged by massive flooding caused by Hurricane Hazel in 1954.  Today, there are some very large remnants of that damage including large chunks of cement that remain here as a reminder.




Although the park is closed off to cars of the general public, vehicles are still allowed in by special permit. 
One final note, historically the Rowntree Mills Park was named in the honor of Joseph Rowntree who built a sawmill on the west bank in 1843 and a grist mill on the east bank of the Humber River in 1848.  These two mills were operated until the 19th century and were knowns as the Greenholme Mills.