The Kingsway is one of Toronto's premier neighbourhoods know for its majestic oak and maple trees which provide the perfect backdrop for the stately homes that grace the neighbourhood. The area is bounded by Bloor Street on the south, Dundas Street on the north, Prince Edward Road on the east and Mimico Creek on the west.
The neighbourhood was first developed by Robert Home Smith who purchased the Old King's Mill (renamed the Old Mill which opened as a inn) and began developing land in the early 1900's. The Kingsway emerged from Home Smith's vision of the ideal community and was mostly inspired by the Garden City principals, which were originally conceived in parts of England and the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Smith was a big fan of English design and instructed his ideas for the neighbourhood and by the 1920's those ideas culminated into the development named Kingsway Park.
These traditional homes were sited on well-treed and winding streets to create an air of a wooded retreat. Most of the homes were designed in the Arts and crafts style, which was popular at the time. Smith insisted on the use of locally sourced materials for the houses in Kingsway park, such as sandstone quarried from around the Humber River and Credit River.
Even today this well planned community was designed for families. The houses and properties are a good size, the streets are pedestrian friendly and the schools, shopping, churches and recreation are all within walking distance.
Schools:
Lambton-Kingsway, 525 Prince Edward Dr., N., (416) 394-7890
Etobicoke CI. 86 Montgomery Rod., (416) 394-7890
Our Lady of Sorrows. 32 Montgomery Rd., (416) 393-5246
Kingsway Montessori School. 85 The Kingsway (416) 233-1491
Recreation:
There is the Etobicoke Memorial Pool and Health Club 44 Montgomery Road, and next door is Central Arena for Hockey enthusiasts. Central Park just south of Dundas Street and east of Islington is home to Etobicoke Lawn Bowling club, tennis courts and a baseball diamond. Home Smith Park follows the Humber River and can be accessed through Dundas Street it is made up of 10 kilometres of paved trails for cyclist, walkers and runners and connects to the Martin Goodman Trail on Toronto's waterfront.
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