Downsview Park, Urban park in North York, Toronto, Canada
Downsview Park is an urban green space covering roughly 291 acres in North York, featuring walking trails, sports facilities, and natural areas across one of Toronto's highest points. The site combines open lawn sections with pockets of woodland and maintained pathways that run throughout the grounds.
The site served as a military base and aircraft manufacturing location from 1929 until 1995, when it began transitioning into a public green space. This transformation brought together residential neighborhoods, recreation areas, and natural zones where hangars and runways once dominated the landscape.
Many schoolchildren participate in programs that focus on nature and sustainable practices, exploring woodland and wetland areas within the urban setting. These activities connect young people with the environment and foster ecological awareness through hands-on experience on-site.
The park offers sports facilities, a fenced area for dogs off leash, and an extensive path network for walking or cycling. Visitors can enter the grounds freely and explore the different zones according to personal preference.
A four-hectare farm within the park boundaries produces vegetables and other food using ecological methods for the surrounding community. This farm demonstrates cultivation techniques right beside recreation areas, making urban agriculture visible and accessible to visitors.
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