Living in Moss Park
Moss Park is one of Toronto’s largest public housing projects. It is situated in the poorest part of the city. The Salvation Army Hostel is located across the street from Moss Park at the corner of Sherbourne and Queen Street. The Moss Park neighbourhood is anchored on the west side by a large public park which also happens to be the home of the Moss Park Armoury, a training centre for the Canadian Armed Forces.
History of Moss Park
The Moss Park neighbourhood was originally part of a 100 acre Park Lot owned by William Allan, one of early Toronto’s wealthiest citizens. In 1830, Allan built a huge mansion on his estate and named it Moss Park. The mansion stood were the city park of the same name is today. When Allan passed away in 1853, he left his Moss Park estate to his son George, who would later become the Mayor of Toronto. George Allan, immediately subdivided his father’s estate and this area soon became known for its Victorian homes. Today, little is left of the original Moss Park neighbourhood. Its houses were demolished in 1962 in order to make room for the Moss Park Apartment Buildings which comprise the current Moss Park neighbourhood.
Homes in Moss Park
Moss Park has three double wing high-rise apartment buildings and one single-tower apartment building. All the apartment buildings are well set-back from the street. They are surrounded both by greenspace and by an internal network of roadways that discourage outside traffic from entering the neighbourhood.
Lifestyle in Moss Park
There is local shopping on both Sherbourne and Parliament Streets. Queen Street East is an eclectic mix of local stores, and design and decorating stores that draw shoppers from Toronto’s more affluent neighbourhoods.
Recreation in Moss Park
The Moss Park apartment buildings contain their own recreation centre, as well as an outdoor basketball court, and a children’s playgrounds. Moss Park situated to the west of the neighbourhood apartment buildings Ü is one of Toronto’s larger parks. It includes a sports field, a baseball diamond, and two tennis courts. Moss Park is located right next to the John Innes Community Recreation Centre. This modern recreational facility features an indoor swimming pool, a gymnasium, a running track, a weight room, a cardio training room, a games room, a woodworking shop, and a craft room. Next door to the community centre is the Moss Park Arena.
Transportation in Moss Park
There are a number of public transportation routes within the Moss Park neighbourhood, including the Queen Streetcar, and bus service on Sherbourne Street and Parliament Street. These surface routes connect to stations on the Bloor-Danforth and the Yonge-University-Spadina subway lines.