Tommy Thompson Park
Tommy Thompson Park provides an outdoor oasis just a short distance from Downtown Toronto
Tommy Thompson Park is located on the Leslie Street Spit, a man made peninsula that extends for about 5 km out into Lake Ontario providing a quiet place to walk and explore and offering some excellent views of the Toronto skyline. A walk on the spit will provide you with lots of opportunities to capture great photographs of the resident wildlife.
Construction of the peninsula was started late in the 1950s by the Toronto Harbour Commission to create a breakwater for an outer harbour. The need for an outer harbour never came to pass, however the Leslie Street Spit offered a convenient location for dumping the earth and rubble resulting from the many building projects in the rapidly developing city. Over the years, advocates for the spit have helped protect it's status as a natural conservation area. The northern portion has been designated as Tommy Thompson Park, while the southern half is still used for dumping. Eventually the entire area will become parkland. Presently the Spit is just open on weekends and holidays from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm in the summer and from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm in the winter. It is closed weekdays due to ongoing work and to help preserve its natural environment.
The Leslie Street Spit is now home to about 400 plant species along with cottonwood and poplar forests. There are over 300 bird species that can be found on the Spit, 45 of which breed there. There are no cars allowed on the Spit, so this is for 'walkers' and don't forget that the park is closed on weekdays. Bring your camera!
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: No
Hours: April - November; Saturday, Sunday and Holidays from 9am-6pm. November to March; Saturday, Sunday and Holidays from 9am-4:30pm. Closed on weekdays.
Address: 1 Leslie Street, Toronto, ON
Official Website: Leslie Street Spit - Tommy Thompson Park
Directions
| TTC Subway Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
|---|---|---|
| Bloor-Danforth | Donlands Station | 7 Minutes |
How to get to Leslie Street Spit - Tommy Thompson Park by TTC Subway
From Donlands Station take the #83 Jones bus south to Leslie Street at Commissioners. Continue walking south along Leslie Street about 500 metres to the park entrance.
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Accommodations near Leslie Street Spit - Tommy Thompson Park:
Photo Gallery
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Path to the Lighthouse at the end of the Leslie Street Spit cc licensed photo by qmnonic -
Photo Credit: timescan - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: The City of Toronto - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: The City of Toronto - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: The City of Toronto - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: The City of Toronto - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: The City of Toronto - cc license via Flickr
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