Surrounded by the Park Drive, Moore Park, and Vale of Avoca Ravines, Moore Park is a sanctuary with nature at its doorstep, offering several recreational opportunities and a tranquil atmosphere to its residents. Moore Park was primarily developed between 1900 and the 1930s, and on its uncluttered, quiet, and safe streets are houses of English Cottage, Georgian, and Tudor styles with lots that often back onto one of the ravines. Shopping centres at Yonge and St. Clair or Davisville are within walking distance and there is easy access to acclaimed public and private schools. With all these amenities, it is not surprising that Moore Park is one of Toronto’s most highly sought after neighbourhoods.
Moore Park by Liz Higgs
Location
Moore Park has natural barriers on all sides. To the north is the Mount Pleasant Cemetery, to the south are the railway tracks, to the east is the Moore Park Ravine, and to the west is the Vale of Avoca Ravine.
Mount Pleasant Cementery by alice
History
Moore Park is named after its creator, John Thomas Moore of Markham, who held many prominent positions in business and political circles. Moore personally oversaw the construction of the Belt Line’s showpiece station at Moore Park, predicting that it would bring many buyers to his Moore Park subdivision. Development in the area was first planned in the 1880s, but was waylaid until the early 1900s. The neighbourhood was subdivided in 1889 as a Toronto suburb for the very wealthy, and by the 1930s, it was fully developed.
Homes, Architecture & Real Estate
The real estate spectrum in Moore Park is one of the best in Toronto, attracting affluent buyers. Most of the houses in the southern part of the neighbourhood are impressive, reflecting early-20th-century Tudor, Georgian, and Edwardian architectural styles and dating from over a century ago. Moore Park homes are mainly two-storey detached structures of all brick construction. Heading north toward Moore Park, one finds modern luxury townhomes and duplexes — slightly more affordable than the central neighbhourhood. There is also a smattering of row houses on Tacoma. Although Moore Park homes share driveways, street parking is seldom a problem.
Photo by Dennis
Who Is Your Neighbour?
According to statistics, your neighbours are most likely English, Irish, or Scottish of around 39 years old, married with two kids and owning their own home — and maybe a vacation home, too. Their pet is a dog and their favourite music stations play jazz or classical.
Parks & Green Spaces
- Moore Park Ravine. If you are a nature enthusiast, you will definitely enjoy watching birds and other wildlife in their natural habitat, following the 8 kilometre Moore Park Ravine foot path that passes through the Rosedale Ravine, the Mt. Pleasant cemetery, the Lower Don Trail, and the old Don Valley Pressed Brickworks. Moore Park Ravine follows Mud Creek, a small tributary of the Don River.
- Chorley Park is a beautiful plot of land filled with trails, overlooking the Don River Valley. At 245 Douglas Drive, you can see a rock to which is attached a 1975 Toronto Historical Board plaque that tells the story of the park. During the Great Depression, the Lieutenant Governor of the province was located on the parkland in an elaborate government building, which was first closed in 1937 and then torn down in 1960, after citizens of Ontario against protested the lofty overhead that went into its upkeep. The land was eventually added to the municipal parks system.
Chorley Park
- David Balfour Park. Next to the Rosehill Reservoir Park is the David Balfour Park, named for an anti-communist Toronto city councillor and member of the Board of Control, David A. Balfour. This park of diverse beauty runs from the southern tip of Mount Pleasant Cemetery to Mount Pleasant Road just north of Roxborough Avenue. Hike away from city life through the wilderness of the Vale of Avoca Ravine, or take the flat path on the east side if you don’t feel up to a more challenging route.
- Riverdale Park and Farm
If you’re looking for a place to spend some quality time with your family, Riverdale Park is one of the best choices nearby. It can be accessed from the corner of Winchester and Sumach, offering sports fields, tennis courts, a swimming pool, and a jogging track and serving as an access point to the Lower Don Recreation Trail. In Riverdale Park, you’ll also find the municipally operated Riverdale Farm, where you can take your children and enjoy demonstrations of daily chores. You can follow pathways through 7.5 acres of wooded area, around ponds, and into butterfly/herb/vegetable/flower gardens. Some highlights are the parent and tot programs, pottery, quilting, summer day camps, yoga, tree planting, fresh bread from the wood oven, and the Thursday Farmers’ Market.
Other Nearby Parks
- Winston Churchill Park
- Moorevale Park
- Todmorden Mills Park
Recreation & Culture
- Mooredale House, at 146 Crescent Road, is a community centre that offers a variety of recreational opportunities — from sports, fitness, arts, and music programs for adults and children to a series of summer day camps. It is run by the Rosedale and Moore Park resident associations and there is a small annual fee to join. Mooredale House organizes a lively annual event known as Mayfair on the first Saturday in May in Rosedale Park. Mayfair consists of rides, games, a flea market, and other carnival activities.
- Sir Winston Churchill Park Tennis Club. Founded in 1965, it is a non-profit organization that promotes and maintains an interest in the game of tennis within the community. Its mission is to create an environment that fosters maximum participation, skill development, and enjoyment through social, casual, and competitive tennis.
Sir Winston Churchill Park
- Moore Park Tennis Club is on Moore Avenue, in Moorevale Park, three blocks north of St. Clair Avenue and a block east of Mount Pleasant Road. By public transit, you can find it by taking the subway to St. Clair and Yonge and the Leaside bus to Moore Avenue. There is free parking on the street.
Libraries
The closest public library is the Deer Park Branch at 40 St. Clair Ave. E.
Schools, Colleges & Universities
- Whitney Jr. School, previously called Moore Park Jr. & Sr. School
- Bennington Heights School
- Rosedale Public School
- Brown School
- Maurice Cody School
- Rolph Road School
- Cottingham Jr. School
- Northern Secondary
- North Toronto CI
Arts & Entertainment
- Cineplex Odeon, at 1303 Yonge Street
- Spank Films, at 60 St. Clair Av. E
- Charlotte Bernard Communications, at 60 St. Clair Av. E
Photo by 416style
Attractions & Museums
- Mount Pleasant Cemetery. Enhanced by a unique collection of artwork, sculptures, and memorials created by gifted artists, Mount Pleasant has developed over the years into is a cemetery of great beauty.
- Canadian Broadcast Museum Foundation, 1000 Yonge Street, (416) 367-4772
Shopping
Pick up elegant flower arrangements from Blossoms Rosedale (at 1 Rowanwood Avenue), or hard-to-find Dutch blums at Thriving Metropolis Flowers (at 1206 Yonge Street). Design an elegant invitation for your party ar Lavender Press (at 68 Crescent Rd.), and savour cutting-edge Senses catering.
Blossoms Rosedale Flower Studio
Yonge and St. Clair or the Mount Pleasant and Davisville shopping districts are the most popular retail destinations for Moore Park residents. Yonge and St. Clair provides a wide variety of business and medical services, boutiques, and groceries catering to the busy professional. There is also a small collection of neighbourhood stores on Summerhill Avenue in the south-east pocket of the neighbourhood. Do not miss the Summerhill Market, at 446 Summerhill Ave.
Summerhill Market
Restaurants
- Simply Thai, 81 St. Clair Ave. E. (at Yonge), (416) 975-0999
- Brownes Bistro, 4 Woodlawn Ave. E. (at Yonge), (416) 924-8132
- New Thai Restaurant, 81 St. Clair Ave. E. (at Yonge), (416) 975-0999
- Wylie’s, 1234 A Yonge St. (at Walker Ave.), (416) 920-9063
- Pastis Express, 1158 Yonge St. (at Marlborough Ave.), (416) 928-2212
- Musashi, A Taste of Japan, 1166 Yonge St. (at Marlborough Ave.), (416) 967-7374
- Golden House Chinese Restaurant, 1280 Yonge St. (at Woodlawn Ave.), (416) 961-2710
Transportation
- By Bus: Moore Park has bus service on St. Clair Avenue, Mount Pleasant Road, and Moore Avenue.
- By Subway: The St. Clair subway station is within walking distance of many Moore Park houses. Summerhill Station and Rosedale Station are also 1.0 km from the neighbourhood centre.
- By Car: Motorists have quick access via Moore Avenue to both the Bayview Extension and the Don Valley Parkway.
Local Associations
- Moore Park Residents Association. The MPRA is a non-profit, volunteer-powered organization that addresses a wide range of community issues — from trees to traffic, and development to safety. Its members are passionate about issues that directly affect the quality of life in Moore Park. The MPRA is not affiliated with any political party and is a member of The Federation of North Toronto Residents’ Associations (FONTRA).
Moore Park Residents Associaton
- The Rosedale – Moore Park Association. Founded in 1933, RMPA is a community association that brings Rosedale and Moore Park residents together and provides social, recreational, and extra-curricular activities for the children in Rosedale and Moore Park.
Medical Centres & Doctors
- Dr. Chadda Tina, at 87 Av Harper, (416) 921-6525
- Dr. David G. Scroggie, Psychiatrist, at 18 Cornish Road, (416) 923-6712
- Pro-Active Nutritional Consulting, at 108 Av Moore, (416) 970-1624
- Dr Anne H. Richards, Consultant Pediatrician, at 183 Glenrose Avenue, (416) 754-8358
Police Station
53 Division, 75 Eglinton Av. W., 416-808-5300, Fax:416-808-5302
Fire Station
Station #311, 20 Balmoral Avenue
Post Office
The closest post office is at 2 Laird Drive, (416) 421-8777
Churches & Religious Organisations
- Our Lady Of Perpetual Help Church, at 78 Clifton Road
- Archdiocese of Toronto, 78 Clifton Road, (416) 489-1540
Demographics
- Total Population: 4,413
- Total Households: 1,528
- Average household income: $323,572.00
- Average age: 39
- Top religion: Anglican (23.46%)
- Top ethnicities: English (19.0%), Irish (16.0%), Scottish (12.0%)
- Top job types: White collar (66.4%), Grey collar (27.8)%, Blue collar (5.8)%
