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Fairbank Park Plaza, Toronto, 2021[for complete experiece open full screen version]  

 
  Previous Courthouse Square, Toronto

This is probably the best way, at least to my liking, to find urban squares.  I needed the spot to wait for my daughter, car was extremely unpleasant on a hot day, I glanced around and found this place, on the hill, overlooking the whole area, with extraordinary history.

This plaza/park doesn't have official name but it should be by all means Fairbank Park or Plaza. It is located on a hill, on the corner of appropriately called Briar Hill Avenue and Dufferin Street some 12 km north of downtown Toronto.

  As soon as you step in the park you will notice two plaques on each sides of the small gazebo in the middle but even before you read what is on them you will feel "genius loci" [spirit of the place].

This was location of a little settlement on a land purchased from the Mississauga of the Credit River, sadly probably for just several glass beads :(, in 1805 and by 1880 there was 37 families living in the area. It was named Fairbank in 1874 when first post office was opened here.

  This exact location is where Briar Hill School Section 15 first opened in a one room log house in 1830, then replaced by the brick house in 1863, enlarged in 1908. As the community grew it was replaced with 8 room Briar Hill Public School in 1927.

This historic school was demolished in 2013, stone from above the old school entrance is saved and placed in the park, serving as a reminder of the time passed.

Read more bellow photos.

Next Market Square-Market Lane, Toronto

 
           
  East York Civic Centre Park, Toronto, Map  
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social
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  Demolition in 2013 opened this location for development and this is how this semi circular public gathering space with several benches under nice gazebo is created.   Remarkable design by for me unknown architect created totally pedestrianized community of apartment buildings with pleasant paths and lot of greenery.   Walk true this complex is reminding me of the contemporary community in Amsterdam, Nederland, in the middle of the old town.

Read more bellow photos.

 
     
   
     
   
     
   
     
  I ended up my walk back towards the Fairbank Plaza with approach to the Fairbank Methodist Church from 1889 just on the other side of Dufferin Street, clearly visible from all of the benches.

Area on this, west side of the street is filled with older, well preserved houses, hidden beneath mature trees [few photos above]

  The east side is quite unpleasant old fashioned mall with ground floor commercial structures. It looks like it is even expanded which will make it even more unpleasant. Quality of this type of plaza/park is if and how people in the community are using it. From my very first photo, two older gentlemen chitchatting on a bench in the shadow facing the street, family enjoying their lunch, couple walking their dog or just me using this space as a nice resting [and waiting spot] it is obvious that this plaza is very much appreciated.

Next Plaza Central, Liberia, Costa Rica

 
     
   
           
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Last time updated on August 5, 2021 12:51