Crawford Street Bridge

Crawford Street Bridge is a concrete deck arch structure that once spanned the former Garrison Creek with three separate sections and sidewalks on each side. The bridge now lies buried beneath the surface, its original footprint preserved underground while the landscape above has transformed.

The bridge was built in 1915 to replace an earlier wooden version from 1884. During the 1960s, the creek valley was filled in and the structure was buried as the park developed above it.

The bridge lies hidden beneath the park, yet visitors can sense its former role as a vital crossing by reading the commemorative plaques scattered throughout the area. These markers serve as small reminders of how urban infrastructure shapes neighborhood life, even when buried from view.

A walk through the park with attention to the commemorative markers is the best way to understand what once stood here. The ground is even and accessible, making it easy to explore the hidden structure while enjoying the outdoor space above.

The bridge exists as a hidden archaeological layer beneath a modern urban park, showing how Toronto reshaped its infrastructure by burying waterways underground. This type of transformation was common in 20th-century North American cities seeking to reclaim land and modernize their landscapes.