Living in Dovercourt Park
The Dovercourt Park neighbourhood is conveniently located close to the centre of the city of Toronto. Its residents are mostly low to moderate income families from many different cultural backgrounds. A focal point in this neighbourhood is the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club. Their clubhouse, located at Dovercourt Park, is open year round and offers a myriad of social and recreational programs for neighbourhood children.
History of Dovercourt Park
The Dovercourt Park neighbourhood began as the Village of Dovercourt back in the 1870’s. Dovercourt’s first residents were poor immigrants that came to Canada from England. By 1884, there were a few dozen houses scattered throughout Dovercourt. These first houses were one and two bedroom, tar and paper shacks, which would eventually earn Dovercourt the unflattering nickname “Shantytown”. Better days were just around the corner however, as the City of Toronto annexed the Village of Dovercourt in 1910. Annexation brought proper city services to Dovercourt which in turn helped to stimulate the growth of this neighbourhood. Dovercourt Park was fully developed by 1923.
Homes in Dovercourt Park
Dovercourt Park houses were built between 1900 and 1925. Many of these single family homes have been converted into apartments. The trend now is to return these to single family homes. The sturdy brick houses in this neighbourhood may best be described as Edwardian style architecture. Most are two and three storeys. Many have open front porches and gable dormers that face out onto the street. The lots are narrow but neat and tidy. Parking is situated at the rear off laneways. Permit street parking is also available on many streets. The mature tree canopy found in this neighbourhood adds to the quaintness of the streetscape. In particular the houses around Dovercourt Park have a nice curb appeal.
Lifestyle in Dovercourt Park
The Bloorcourt Village shopping district on Bloor Street West, extends from Montrose Avenue over to Dufferin Street. Here you will find a wide variety of shops and services. Dufferin Mall is located across the street from the Dufferin Grove park, just south of Bloor Street. It is the premier shopping destination in this neighbourhood. The Galleria Mall located at Dupont and Dufferin has forty-five stores, including a major department store, and a good selection of smaller independent stores.
Recreation in Dovercourt Park
The main recreational facility in this neighbourhood is Dovercourt Park. This park is six acres in size and features, a children’s playground, a wading pool, two tennis courts, baseball diamond, sports fields, and natural ice rinks in the winter. Dovercourt Park is also the home of the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club, for children ages seven through seventeen. This club is open year round and includes a small gymnasium, a pool, a games room, an arts and crafts room, and two computer rooms. Christie Pitts Park (pool, baseball diamond, skating rink) and Dufferin Grove Park (fire pits, soccer fields, skating rink) are also very popular neighbourhood recreational destinations. The Bloor Gladstone branch of the Toronto Public Library offers programs for both children and adults.
Transportation in Dovercourt Park
Most Dovercourt Park houses are within walking distance of either the Ossington or Dufferin subway stations on the Bloor-Danforth subway line. Dovercourt Park’s main arterial roadways are Bloor and Dufferin Streets which provide motorists with excellent access routes to all parts of the city.