Bedford Park

Bedford Park is an ideal upper scale neighbourhood for families with young children. With the terrific range of public, private and separate schools, numerous parkettes and playgrounds, a community centre, a library, and expedient access to Toronto’s transit system, Bedford Park is the ideal location to raise a family in Toronto.

Bedford Park began to develop around 1873, when the Bedford Park Hotel opened on the south west corner of Yonge Street and Fairlawn Avenue. A farming hamlet was all that surrounded the hotel. This center of this hamlet focused on the crossroads of Yonge Street and Lawrence Avenue. The area became a customary stopover for farmers traveling to and from the markets in Toronto.

As the Metropolitan Street Railway extended railway tracks from Toronto and started to regularly service the area in 1890. As a result, the residential development ofBedford Park began to expand, especially after the neighbourhood merged with the former Town of North Toronto, which was then appropriated by the city of Toronto in 1912. What was once the Bedford Park General Store and Post Office building is still present at the south-west corner of Yonge Street and Bedford Park Avenue.

There is a plentiful combination in Bedford Park of detached and semi-detached houses. Many of the original bungalows built between 1890 and 1940 have been leveled to make room for custom designed houses. An example of this can be found in the award winningBedford Glen development on Sylvan Valley Way. This attractive assembly of low-rise terraced condominium apartments and townhouses in a private ravine setting.

As most of the homes in Bedford Park are accessible to a wonderful range of shopping along Yonge Street, Avenue Road and Lawrence Avenue, it’s no surprise that this fabulous area is one of Toronto’s top selling neighbourhoods where the housing prices range from $600,000 to $1,000,000+.

There are a wide variety of family oriented exclusive shops in Yonge Lawrence Villagewhere there is a wide array of stores. It also features a good selection of coffee shops, bakeries and restaurants.

Teddington Park

In 1912 Teddington Park consisted of the northern boundary of the City of Toronto. Soon after, separate plans of subdivision were registered by two prominent Toronto businessman, which led to the eventual construction of homes in Teddington Park.

The inspiration behind Teddington Park’s expansion as a high-end residential area was inspired by the Rosedale Golf Club, which had relocated from Rosedale to Teddington Park in 1909.

Originally, in lieu of municiplal addresses, Teddington Park’s older houses on Riverview Drive were given such appealing names such as ‘Donnybrook’, ‘Silverwood’, and ‘Treetops’. There are still a few homes standing that display these historical names.

Conveniently located along the Yonge Street corridor this neighbourhood has remained astonishingly quiet due to its natural boundaries which include the Rosedale Golf Cluband the Riverview Drive Ravine.

The majority of Teddington Park’shomes were constructed between 1910 and 1935. The highlight of this neighbourhood is Teddington Park Avenue, a striking broad tree-lined boulevard that contains large Tudor and Georgian style houses. Another notable street is Riverview Drive with its winding, countrified road, ruled by majestic maple trees. Riverview Drive boasts particularly sizeable houses as they enjoy the luxury of backing out onto Riverview Drive Ravine.

Walking distance shopping is possible is this high-end haven, as residents have a variety of boutiques, restaurants, grocery stores and other shops along Yonge Street.

A notable highlight of this community is the Rosedale Golf Club, which is noted by golf enthusiasts throughout the city. For those who prefer golfing less commitment for their experience, they have the option of attending the nearby Don Valley Golf Course, off Yonge Street, and just north of York Mills.

Wanless Park

When Toronto Suburbs Ltd. registered a plan of subdivision in 1912, they originally named it Waverley Park after the old Wavely farm on Mount Pleasant Road and Lawrence Avenue. In 1931 the City of Toronto expropriated the properties in the centre of the community for the creation of a public park. This park was called Wanless Park, after former Toronto alderman and educator John Wanless. Ultimately Waverley Park became Wanless Park.

The solid brick detached houses in Wanless Park were built mostly in the 1930′s and 1940′s. The majority of homes are two storey, although there are a few bungalows in the neighbourhood as well.

Property sizes inWanless Park are substantial with most homes having at least a thirty-foot frontage and either a mutual or private driveway. Another residential benefit is the houses in Wanless Park either face the park or back onto the Riverview Drive ravine.

Shopping is a breeze for residents as they can easily walk to the Yonge Lawrence Village shopping district. There are hundreds of stores, restaurants, and professional and medical offices along Yonge Street from Lawrence to Yonge Boulevard. There are numerous stores that are perfect for families with young children, which reflect the demographics of the surrounding neighbourhood.

Wanless Park is the social and recreational nucleus of the neighbourhood. Facilities comprise of five floodlit tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a basketball court, a wading pool, as well as a children’s playground.

There are also indoor recreational facilities accessible at the Bedford Park Community Centre, located on Ranleigh Avenue, inside the Bedford Park Public School. This recreation centre has a gymnasium and an indoor pool.

The Locke Public Library at the south-east corner of Yonge and Lawrence has an array of programs for preschoolers, children, and adults.