Overview
The Beach is the quintessential residential neighbourhood with young families and young professionals flocking to own their piece of The Beach real estate. It’s also no stranger to the rest of Toronto who flood The Beach neighbourhood in the summer month seeking a lakeside community without the inconvenience of having to leave the city. Great schools, beautiful parks and sandy beaches, the Boardwalk, diverse shops along Queen St. E and tantalizing restaurants have made The Beach the “IT” place to live and visit for many years. The Beach’s boundaries stretch from Leslie to Victoria Park on the East, The Lakeshore to the south and Gerrard St. to the North. Many people consider Kingston Road to be the northern boundary of this neighbourhood but as with many neighbourhoods in Toronto, the exact boundaries depend on who you talk to.
History
The Beach history is an interesting one and as a result has a large number on protected Heritage Sites. This neighbourhood’s ability to attract visitors from other parts of the city began very early in its history with Amusements parks being the main draw. Amusement parks such as Victoria Park, Munro Park and Scarboro Beach Park were located at the foot of present day Victoria Park Ave., Munro Park Ave, and Scarboro Beach Blvd. Between 1907 and 1932, The Toronto Harbour Commission purchased the land of lakeshore properties and marshes with the intention of developing the beach. Between 1929 and 1930, the city installed wooden groynes to collect sediment from the Scarborough Bluffs to create the wonderful 2km stretch of beach many Torontonians enjoy.
Homes Settled on lovely tree-lined streets that lead to the lake, the majority of the beach homes were developed in the 1920’s and 1930’s in classic Edwardian and Victorian house styles. Earlier developments of cottage like homes which were built in the late 1800 and early 1900’s are still present today. This neighbourhood is a hot spot for home renovations with many residents taking great pride in their homes and exteriors. Exterior curb appeal and fine interior finishes are no stranger to this neighbourhood.
Transportation
This neighbourhood is well serviced by the TTC with numbers streetcars heading to and from the city along Queens St. E., Kingston Road and Gerrard St. North-South bus lines along Woodbine Ave and Coxwell Ave take you to their respective station along the Bloor-Danforth line with a third line taking you to Main station. Close proximity to Lakeshore blvd allows residents to travel into the city to catch the Gardiner Expressway and the Don Valley Parkway respectfully. The GO Train station at Danforth & Main zips transit riders to Union Station.
Shopping
Queen St. E acts as the neighbourhoods “Main St” with an eclectic mix of shops and fine restaurants and eateries dotting the landscape. Additional shops along Kingston Road provide additional places for local to shops. Check out the Business Improvement Association for The Beach by clicking here!
Recreation
One thing The Beach neighbourhood is not short of is places for recreation. This entire neighbourhood is a playground for the old and young alike! I would be remiss to not start off by discussing The Beaches' most famous landmarks – The Beach and The Boardwalk! Specifically, Ashbridges Bay is a wonderful spot for family picnics and beach volleyball. On a typical summer day you will find people walking along the boardwalk, playing beach volleyball, walking their dogs (there is a leash free area too! Beach residents love their dogs!), cycling or running along the paths, wind surfing, sun tanning and of course…building castles! The Martin Goodman Trail is a 20km recreational-use trail that runs along Lake Ontario from The Beach to the Humber River. At the base of Woodbine Ave you’ll find Donald Summerville Pool which is an Olympic sized pool, diving pool and a children’s pool.
A nature lovers retreat is the Glen Stewart Park which features a lovely ravine and nature trail, providing yet another recreational option for the community.
The fun continues a Kew Gardens which is really the hub of the community, hosting many annual events like the Christmas Tree and Menorah lighting, the popular Beaches Jazz Festival and Arts and Crafts show. It’s here that you’ll find one of Toronto's most active tennis programs with 10 flood lit courts, a baseball diamond, an artificial ice rink, a children's playground, a wading pool and a concert bandstand.
The Beach Branch of the Toronto Public Library is right next to Kew Gardens and also features a variety of programs for children and adults.
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Learn more the The Beach’s neighbouring communities by clicking on the links below:
