Hilly, treed and quiet, The Beach is the quintessentially residential neighbourhood. Located along the shoreline of eastern Toronto, the narrow side streets are partially secluded in a thick canopy of trees. These same streets contain a wide variety of detached and semi-detached houses built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in classic Victorian and Edwardian architectural styles.
The community began as a handful or houses, cottages and tents at the foot of Woodbine Avenue sometime in the late 19th century. Turn-of-the-century amusement parks such as Victoria Park, Munro Park and Scarboro Beach Park drew summer visitors to this quiet wooded village. These parks resided at the base of today’s Victoria Park Avenue, Munro Park Avenue, and Scarboro Beach Boulevard.
The beaches themselves were formed from land purchases of lakeshore properties and marshes by the Toronto Harbour Commission between 1907 and 1932. Between 1929 and 1930, the city deployed wooden “groynes” or custom-shaped piers to catch sediment from the Scarborough Bluffs to create the uninterrupted two kilometre stretch of firm sand we enjoy today.
In no small effort by Beach residents who have championed for historical preservation over the years, The Beach is also home to a large set of protected heritage properties such as the iconic Leuty Lifeguard Station built in 1920, and The Beaches Public Library whose construction in 1916 was funded by philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.
Where to eat and shop
Bracketed by Kingston Road to the north and Lake Ontario to the south, The Beach’s commercial heart pulses along Queen St. East. It’s studded with a variety of small boutiques, bakeries and independent restaurants. When locals are hungry, they can be found at mainstays such as the Whitlock, an institutional Sunday brunch spot, and “The Goof”, a Chinese-Canadian diner. You can spoil your puppy dog at Bark & Fitz, a gourmet canine food store.
Getting here
By public transit, the TTC Route 501 streetcar provides service to Toronto downtown in 20-30 minutes. By car, the Gardiner Expressway and Lakeshore Boulevard similarly provides a quick express route to the downtown core.
Where to play
Queen Street is also where Kew Gardens, The Beach’s largest municipal park, is located. Facilities include tennis courts, a baseball diamond, wading pool, and skating rink. With its concert bandstand, Kew Gardens also hosts The Beaches International Jazz Festival every summer.
Along the water, the Martin Goodman Trail provides a safe and uninterrupted pedestrian boardwalk. On a sunny day, you could walk, cycle or rollerblade all the way to Mississauga’s Marie Curtis Park. Rest assured there are more than enough ice cream stands along the way to keep you cool!
Controversy remains on whether you should call it The Beach or The Beaches – many families simply call it home.
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