Toronto’s fabulous High Park on a glorious autumn day

High Park in the west end of Toronto contains 398 acres, the largest park fully within the boundaries of the city. A third of it is maintained in a natural state, with untouched woodlands and grassy hills with wild flowers. It also has formal gardens and a 35-acre pond, the size of a small lake – Grenadier Pond. There are two deep ravines that extend the full length of the park from south to north.

John G. Howard donated about a third of the land within the present-day park. It formed the central section, and stretched from the lake, as far north as Bloor Street. Howard originally purchased the land in 1836 for the grand sum of $1000. He named his estate High Park as it was the highest point of land along the shoreline. John G. Howard was a City Surveyor and an architect, as well as an amateur artist who painted in watercolours.

Howard deeded the land to the city in 1873, with the condition that he and his wife Jemima be allowed to live in their home, Colborne Lodge, until they had both passed away. They also insisted that the city agree to open the park to everyone in Toronto in perpetuity, and that no alcohol ever be served within the grounds. The city was also to provide a pension of $1200 a year to the Howards, in exchange for the land. This was a fair bit of money, as a domestic servant in the decade earned about $8 a month. The City Council agreed to the Howard’s terms by a vote of 32-2. The two dissenting votes were cast by councillors who felt that the land was too remote from the city to be useful to its citizens. In 1873, when the land was donated, the only access to the park was by boat, along the shores of Lake Ontario.

The city enlarged the park by purchasing land on the west side of Howard’s former estate from the Chapman Estate, the land having been originally owned by the Ellis Family. The land on the east side was bought from Percival Ridout.