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{{Other uses|Kew Gardens (disambiguation)}}
{{Other uses|Kew Gardens (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox park
{{Infobox park
| name = Kew Gardens
| name = Kew Gardens
| photo = Beaches Gazebo Kew Gardens.jpg
| photo = Beaches Gazebo Kew Gardens.jpg
| photo_width = 275
| photo_width = 275
| photo_caption = The Alex Christie Bandstand
| photo_caption = The Alex Christie Bandstand
| map = Canada Toronto
| map = Canada Toronto
| map_width =
| map_width =
| map_caption = Location of the park in Toronto
| map_caption = Location of the park in Toronto
| map_alt =
| map_alt =
| type = Public Park
| type = Public Park
| location = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]
| location = [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]
| lat_d = 43.668725
| lat_d = 43.668725
| lat_m =
| lat_NS = N
| long_d = 79.298501
| lat_s =
| lat_NS = N
| long_EW = W
| region = CA-ON
| long_d = 79.298501
| area = {{convert|20.7|acre|ha|1}}
| long_m =
| created = {{start date|1879}}
| long_s =
| operator = City of Toronto
| long_EW = W
| website = {{URL|1=http://www.toronto.ca/parks/prd/facilities/complex/107/index.htm |2=Kew Gardens}}
| region = CA-ON
| area = {{convert|20.7|acre|ha|1}}
| created = {{Start date|1879}}
| operator = City of Toronto
| visitation_num =
| status =
| website = {{URL|1=http://www.toronto.ca/parks/prd/facilities/complex/107/index.htm |2=Kew Gardens}}
}}
}}
'''Kew Gardens''' is a large park in [[The Beaches]] neighbourhood of [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]. The park stretches from [[Queen Street East]] to [[Lake Ontario]] at Kew Beach.
{{No footnotes|date=June 2012}}


The park began as a private {{convert|20.7|acre|ha|1|adj=on}} farm owned by Joseph Williams in the 1850s. As more visitors from the city began to visit the lake front he transformed his holdings into a tourist destination.<ref>*{{cite web |url=http://cec.chebucto.org/ClosPark/Kew-Bech.html |title=Kew Beach/Kew Gardens |publisher=Closed Canadian Parks |accessdate=2012-06-21}}</ref> He set up a large park and built several recreation facilities on the site beginning in 1879, naming it after [[Kew Gardens]] in [[London]].{{sfn|Cochrane|2009|p=20}}
'''Kew Gardens''' is a large park in [[The Beaches]] neighbourhood of [[Toronto]], [[Ontario]], [[Canada]]. The park stretches from [[Queen Street East]] to the lakeshore at Kew Beach.


Williams built a substantial house for himself on the site, which still stands and is home to the park's caretaker. On the lakeshore Williams built facilities for swimming and boating. Inland there were picnic areas, trails, [[tennis court]]s and [[lawn bowling]]. A substantial clubhouse, as well as guest cottages were also constructed. Described by Williams as "A Place of Innocent Amusements," the park was much more genteel than others in the area with no noisy rides or liquor being served. It soon became a popular destination, easily reached from the city via the Queen streetcar.{{sfn|Cochrane|2009|p=20}}
The park began as a private {{convert|20.7|acre|ha|1|adj=on}} farm owned by Joseph Williams in the 1850s. As more visitors from the city began to visit the lake front he transformed his holdings into a tourist destination. He set up a large park and built several recreation facilities on the site beginning in 1879, naming it after [[Kew Gardens]] in [[London]].


The park was purchased by the City of Toronto in 1907 for $43,700 and turned into a municipal park. Over the years, the marshland in the south was filled in and the waterfront beach area was redeveloped. Most of the buildings were demolished, as the amusement industry shifted to the much larger [[Scarboro Beach Amusement Park]] nearby.{{sfn|Cochrane|2009|p=20}}
Williams built a substantial house for himself on the site, which still stands and is home to the park's caretaker. On the lakeshore Williams built facilities for swimming and boating. Inland there were picnic areas, trails, [[tennis court]]s and [[lawn bowling]]. A substantial clubhouse, as well as guest cottages were also constructed. Described by Williams as "A Place of Innocent Amusements," the park was much more genteel than others in the area with no noisy rides or liquor being served. It soon became a popular destination, easily reached from the city via the Queen streetcar.


Today the park is one of the main public venues in the Beaches neighbourhood. It is home to a number of facilities including tennis courts, a [[baseball diamond]], a wading pool, and in winter, a [[ice rink|skating rink]]. A number of historic buildings survive, including Williams' cottage, the bandstand, and the Leuty Lifeguard Station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.toronto.ca/parks/parks_gardens/kew.htm |title=Kew Gardens |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20061202212616/http://www.toronto.ca/parks/parks_gardens/kew.htm |archivedate=2006-12-02 |publisher=City of Toronto |accessdate= 2012-06-21}}</ref> In the northeast corner of the park is the historic Beaches branch of the [[Toronto Public Library]]. A number of monuments and memorials are also now located in the park, including the [[Dr. William D. Young Memorial]]. It is also the main venue for the [[Beaches International Jazz Festival]] each summer.
The park was purchased by the City of Toronto in 1907 for $43,700 and turned into a municipal park. Over the years, the marshland in the south was filled in and the waterfront beach area was redeveloped. Most of the buildings were demolished, as the amusement industry shifted to the much larger [[Scarboro Beach Amusement Park]] nearby.

Today the park is one of the main public venues in the Beaches neighbourhood. It is home to a number of facilities including tennis courts, a [[baseball diamond]], a wading pool, and in winter, a [[ice rink|skating rink]]. A number of historic buildings survive, including Williams' cottage, the bandstand, and the Leuty Lifeguard Station. In the northeast corner of the park is the historic Beaches branch of the [[Toronto Public Library]]. A number of monuments and memorials are also now located in the park, including the [[Dr. William D. Young Memorial]]. It is also the main venue for the [[Beaches International Jazz Festival]] each summer.


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
{{refbegin}}
*{{cite book|ref=harv|last=Cruikshank|first= Tom|others= photographs by John de Visser|title= Old Toronto Houses|year= 2003|location= Toronto|publisher= Firefly Books|isbn= 9781552977316|oclc= 51922677}}
*{{cite web|url= http://www.toronto.ca/parks/parks_gardens/kew.htm |title= Kew Gardens|archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20061202212616/http://www.toronto.ca/parks/parks_gardens/kew.htm|archivedate= 2006-12-02|publisher= City of Toronto|accessdate= 2012-06-21}}
*{{cite book|ref=harv|last1=Cochrane|first1=Glenn|last2= Cochrane|first2= Jean|title= The Beach : an illustrated history from the lake to Kingston Road|year= 2009|location= Toronto|publisher= [[ECW Press]]|isbn= 9781550228717|oclc= 300582517}}
*{{cite web|url= http://cec.chebucto.org/ClosPark/Kew-Bech.html |title= Kew Beach/Kew Gardens|publisher= Closed Canadian Parks|accessdate= 2012-06-21}}
*{{cite book|last= Cruikshank|first= Tom|others= photographs by John de Visser|title= Old Toronto Houses|year= 2003|location= Toronto|publisher= Firefly Books|isbn= 9781552977316|oclc= 51922677}}
*{{Cite book|last1= Cochrane|first1= Glenn|last2= Cochrane|first2= Jean|title= The Beach : an illustrated history from the lake to Kingston Road|year= 2009|location= Toronto|publisher= [[ECW Press]]|isbn= 9781550228717|oclc= 300582517}}
{{refend}}
{{refend}}



Revision as of 02:54, 12 September 2016

Kew Gardens
The Alex Christie Bandstand
Kew Gardens (Toronto) is located in Toronto
Kew Gardens (Toronto)
Location of the park in Toronto
TypePublic Park
LocationToronto, Ontario, Canada
Area20.7 acres (8.4 ha)
Created1879 (1879)
Operated byCity of Toronto
WebsiteKew Gardens

Kew Gardens is a large park in The Beaches neighbourhood of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The park stretches from Queen Street East to Lake Ontario at Kew Beach.

The park began as a private 20.7-acre (8.4 ha) farm owned by Joseph Williams in the 1850s. As more visitors from the city began to visit the lake front he transformed his holdings into a tourist destination.[1] He set up a large park and built several recreation facilities on the site beginning in 1879, naming it after Kew Gardens in London.[2]

Williams built a substantial house for himself on the site, which still stands and is home to the park's caretaker. On the lakeshore Williams built facilities for swimming and boating. Inland there were picnic areas, trails, tennis courts and lawn bowling. A substantial clubhouse, as well as guest cottages were also constructed. Described by Williams as "A Place of Innocent Amusements," the park was much more genteel than others in the area with no noisy rides or liquor being served. It soon became a popular destination, easily reached from the city via the Queen streetcar.[2]

The park was purchased by the City of Toronto in 1907 for $43,700 and turned into a municipal park. Over the years, the marshland in the south was filled in and the waterfront beach area was redeveloped. Most of the buildings were demolished, as the amusement industry shifted to the much larger Scarboro Beach Amusement Park nearby.[2]

Today the park is one of the main public venues in the Beaches neighbourhood. It is home to a number of facilities including tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a wading pool, and in winter, a skating rink. A number of historic buildings survive, including Williams' cottage, the bandstand, and the Leuty Lifeguard Station.[3] In the northeast corner of the park is the historic Beaches branch of the Toronto Public Library. A number of monuments and memorials are also now located in the park, including the Dr. William D. Young Memorial. It is also the main venue for the Beaches International Jazz Festival each summer.

References

  1. ^ *"Kew Beach/Kew Gardens". Closed Canadian Parks. Retrieved 2012-06-21.
  2. ^ a b c Cochrane 2009, p. 20.
  3. ^ "Kew Gardens". City of Toronto. Archived from the original on 2006-12-02. Retrieved 2012-06-21.

Bibliography