I have been going to High Park in Toronto for well over sixty-five years. As of writing this book, in May 2025, I am seventy years old. So, High Park has been a part of my life for almost all my life—as a kid, a teenager, and an adult.

While The History of High Park Toronto Canada focuses on the history of High Park, with some forays into the surrounding area, it is also personal. My partner, Lyn, and I currently live just a five-minute walk from the park. For over twenty years, we walked our two Giant Schnauzers almost daily through the off-leash area to Dog Hill, where they played rambunctiously with other dogs.

This book covers the formation and history of High Park, discusses the devlopment and evolution of its numerous anmenities, looks at the impact of High Park on the neighbourhoods around it, compares High Park to othe rmajor urban parks, and speculates on the future ofHigh Park. In short, if you want to know High Park, this is the book for you.

Contents
Dedication & Acknowledgements
Introduction
My Relationship with High Park
Natural and Indigenous History
The Howards and Gift of Park
Expanding and Preserving the Park
Waterways and Wetlands
Roads and Rails and Car Controversies
Zoo, Colborne Lodge, other Landmarks
Amenities Across the Decades
Food & Fellowship: Grenadier Restaurant
The Cherry Blossoms
Political and Governmental Influence
Neighbourhood and Legacy
High Park Compared to Other Urban Parks
Safety in High Park
Why Parks Matter
Future of High Park