A park, a beach and a waterfront, all in one location.
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We are introducing a brand new series of Photo Essays! Have a look at amazing Photo Sets all shot by talented photographers. Explore the vibe of the city, its hidden treasures, meet the Torontonians! This time, let's have a look at Toronto through the lens of Viera Prievozníková!
Toronto: The City With The Most Parks
One beautiful thing about Toronto is that whenever you go, you're likely to find a park or at least a small parkette within walking distance. It's really important to expand green space for the sake of the community, and we know it. Parks provide us with a meeting place, a place for relaxation, and a nice relief from the fast-paced city. Even just for a short while. You can sit down comfortably below a tall tree and bring a book with you. Organize a cozy picnic for your friends and family. Take your dog for a walk — as there are many off-leash dog areas around the city. Let's have a look at some of the most popular parks of Toronto.
Sugar Beach's famous yellow umbrellas
1. HTO Park
HTO is an urban project that opened in 2007 and features a park, a golf course, and a beach just west of Harbourfront Centre. Housing the extremely popular Sugar Beach close to downtown, this urban project pays respect to the city's past. It's built on quays that used to serve ships arriving at Toronto's Inner Harbour. These two quays are concrete human-made infills from the early 20th century that serve as the base for the park's two divisions, HTO Park East and HTO Park West. Many notable names in architecture contributed to the design: Janet Rosenberg + Associates Landscape Architects, Claude Cormier Architectes Paysagistes Inc., and the famous Hariri Pontarini Architects. The project was one of the first steps in the City of Toronto's goal to revitalize its waterfront. The park was named in honour of these activities; its name is a nice play on "H2O," the chemical formula of water. Since "TO" stands for Toronto, HTO is a perfect representation for the city's waterfront park. HTO Park gives off a "beachy" vibe in the midst of urban Toronto, so you can easily forget that the busiest parts of the city are just a few minutes away.
Location: 339 Queens Quay West
The park offers perfect views of Lake Ontario
The Harbourfront's industrial past is still visible
The Sugar Beach
2. Dufferin Grove Park
Spreading across 14.2 acres of land, this city-owned park is bordered by Dufferin Mall and St.Mary's Catholic High School private housing. It's a perfect example of how the community and volunteers can keep a special place alive. Since 1993, when the "Friends of Dufferin Grove Park" group formed, they have taken loving care of the park and its facilities. At the north end of the park, you'll find the Dufferin Grove Park Artificial Ice Rink, which is always crowded during the winter, and also the clubhouse. There's a multi-purpose sports field, a basketball court, a picnic area, a wading pool, and a children's playground. The community often meets up during special events, picnics, celebrations, or the regular farmer's market. The truly unique feature is the Friday Night Suppers, where you're served delicious food for a friendly donation. If you're wondering whether the large outdoor oven gets ever used, you'll be surprised! The staff organizes Pizza Days, where you can get crunchy pizza slices for a buck. You can also book the oven for your own parties, where you'll be provided with dough, tomato sauce, and cheese. You can pick your toppings from the park gardens according to what's in season at the time. Sounds amazing, doesn't it?
Location: 875 Dufferin Street
Dufferin Grove Park is dog friendly
Make a reservation and get your own pizza!
The Cob Cafe
Dufferin Grove Park Playground
See part 2>>
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Meet the Photographer
Viera Prievozníková
Viera studies marketing communication. She has been devoted to documentary photography and fine art photography for 2 years. Amongst other styles, Viera is fond of street photography, portrait photography and art nude photography. Viera uses street photography to draw people's attention to things often overlooked in everyday life.