Living in West Deane Park
West Deane Park is an extremely quiet neighbourhood with a good mix of long-time residents and newcomers. The country feel of this neighbourhood is derived from the Mimico Creek Valley, which cuts a wide swath through the centre of the West Deane Park neighbourhood. The Mimico Creek Valley is home to a variety of wildlife including fox, beaver, deer, pheasants, ground hogs, skunks, raccoons, coyotes, red tailed hawks, and blue birds-all of which have been spotted by residents of this neighbourhood. If you love nature and animals, you will love the West Deane Park neighbourhood.
History of West Deane Park
The West Deane Park neighbourhood was still farmland when it was purchased by construction magnate Percy Law in the 1930’s. Law raised prize cattle and race horses on this property, which also served as a storage depot for his construction equipment. In keeping with his love for race horses, Law built a Colonial Revival “Old Kentucky” style home over an existing brick farmhouse that had stood on his property. This impressive white house with its large Corinthian style pillars is still standing today, set back from the street at number 59 Beaverbend Road. On the property surrounding his house Law also built a coach house, a farm manager’s house and stables. The farm manager’s house is still standing at 18 Deanewood Crescent. Law sold his hobby farm in the early 1960’s to developer Edmund Peachey, who built the present day neighbourhood. Peachey named this subdivision West Deane Park, in honour of his wife whose maiden name was Deane.
Homes in West Deane Park
The majority of West Deane Park houses were built in the 1960’s. These ranch-style bungalows, split-level homes, and Georgian Revival centre hall designs are all situated on generous size lots with private driveways and an attached garage. There are also a small number of row-houses and multi-plex homes located on the periphery of this neighbourhood. The area around Beaverbend Road was developed later than the rest of this neighbourhood and therefore includes some larger and more modern family-style houses built in the 1980’s.
Lifestyle in West Deane Park
West Deane residents enjoy close proximity to the The East Mall Plaza (at Rathburn Rd.), as well as the Loblaw supermarket at The East Mall south of Burnhamthorpe Rd. Cloverdale Mall an indoor shopping centre located at Highway 427 and Dundas has over 90 stores, restaurants and professional and medical offices.
Recreation in West Deane Park
West Deane Park is situated in the scenic Mimico Creek Ravine Valley. This park is highlighted by a paved exercise and bicycle trail that winds its way along the course of the Mimico Creek. West Deane Park also includes a children’s playground, two baseball diamonds and a shaded picnic area. The Martingrove Tennis Club is located at the north end of this park. These four tennis courts double as an artificial ice rink in the wintertime.
Transportation in West Deane Park
Bus services on the East Mall and on Martingrove Road connect passengers to Go Transit stations. The Eglinton Avenue and Rathburn Road buses provide connecting routes to the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line. Motorists can gain immediate access to Highway 427 South, Highway 27 North, and Highway 401 which provide connecting routes to Toronto’s network of commuter highways.