Parkwoods-O’Connor Hills
Graydon Hall Park
215 Graydon Hall Drive
A 5.3 hectare park near Don Mills Road and Highway 401 that features three lit outdoor sports courts and a children's playground on a sprawling wooded estate.
The Gray Mills/Don Mills
On the south side of the York Mills Road bridge crossing the Don Valley
*Private property. Please observe area from the sidewalk only. This land was first purchased by Alexander Gray, one of six brothers to settle in this area in the early 1800s from Scotland. Collectively, the brothers accumulated 1000 acres along the Don Valley, building a saw mill on the west side of the river and a grist mill on the east side. These mills and others built along the Don River are what gave rise to the name Don Mills. Now a private golf course, the grist mill remains on the property along with two of the brothers' houses and some farm buildings later built by another family who purchased pieces of the property.
Laurentide Park
110 Laurentide Drive
A tree-lined 2.1 hectare park near York Mills Road and the Don Valley Parkway that features an open green space.
Three Valleys Park
82 Three Valleys Drive
This small neighbourhood park has 2 outdoor tennis courts and a playground.
Sarah Collard Murals
Brookbanks Drive and Don Valley Parkway
The murals are titled 'Morning Ride' and 'Trillium Path'. The artist was especially receptive to community input during the creation of the murals subtly integrating elements such as the Donalda House Barns (originally a gristmill in the area) David Duncan House and Milne House, all of which enhance the murals' uniqueness to Don Mills. These and other elements are embedded in a colourful palatte representative of natural ecosystems found in the Don Valley.
Senator O'Connor College School
60 Rowena Drive
This catholic high school is named after Senator Frank O'Connor. Notable alumni include: former Liberal Finance Minister Bill Morneau, long distance swimmer Cindy Nicholas, who was the first woman to complete a two-way crossing of the English Channel, Juno-Award-winning soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian, Nasri Atweh (Grammy-Award-winning lead singer of MAGIC!) and Tim Micallef of the sports talk radio show Tim & Friends.
Maryvale Farm/Senator Frank O'Connor House
Along a paved trail leading east from Mission Drive. The house is on the north (left) side of the trail, just before Senator O'Connor College School.
*Note: Private property. Please observe the house from the street only. Built in 1933, this house was the home of politician and businessman Frank Patrick O'Connor. He was the founder of Laura Secord chocolates (which, back then, was a single shop on Yonge Street) and was also appointed to the Canadian Senate in 1935. The O'Connor Buildings, which include the estate, coach house, and shed, were given to the Toronto Catholic District School Board in 2000. Rehabilitation and renovation work began in 2010, to repair the deterioration that had occurred in the buildings. The estate is now used for various community organizations and as a teaching space.
Broadlands Park
19 Castlegrove Boulevard
This 4.7 hectare park in the Lawrence and Victoria Park Avenue neighbourhood features a ball diamond, four tennis courts, a shuffleboard court and a children's playground. Adjacent to the park is the Broadlands Community Centre featuring an outdoor swimming pool and an outdoor artificial ice rink. In 2022, the tennis courts received new asphalt, new posts and nets, new fences surrounding the tennis courts and new light posts.
Jubilee United Church
40 Underhill Drive
Fans of the TV show 'Orphan Black' will recognize this church as a filming location for its second season. Alison rehearses for the musical here and it's also the location of Aynsley's memorial service.
Dan Bergeron Mural
Underpass on Lawrence Avenue East, west of Carnforth Road
Representing the divergent themes of nature and architecture this visually striking mural relates to both the physical and historical aspects of the surrounding community.
Explore Parkwoods-O’Connor Hills
Now is the time for residents to experience all that tourists have been raving about for years. Discover shops, stops, places and spaces on city main streets. Stay curious, Toronto.
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Don't Miss
Explore FREE Public Art Across the City. Toronto's Year of Public Art 2021-2022 is a year-long celebration of Toronto's exceptional public art collection and the creative community behind it.
We hope that you enjoyed exploring this Toronto neighbourhood and found many other points of interest along the way. While StrollTO highlights some of the 'hidden gems' in the neighbourhood, there may be others that could be included in a future edition. Would you like to share a point of interest that you discovered in the neighbourhood? Email us at [email protected].
Neighbourhood Stroll
This largely residential neighbourhood is bisected by the Don Valley Parkway and has the lush Don River Valley running along its western border. Plenty of lovely parks, beautiful public art, and historic sites can be found throughout. Great local businesses can be found along Victoria Park Avenue, Lawrence Avenue East, and York Mills Road.
- Graydon Hall Park
215 Graydon Hall Drive
A 5.3 hectare park near Don Mills Road and Highway 401 that features three lit outdoor sports courts and a children's playground on a sprawling wooded estate.
- The Gray Mills/Don Mills
On the south side of the York Mills Road bridge crossing the Don Valley
*Private property. Please observe area from the sidewalk only. This land was first purchased by Alexander Gray, one of six brothers to settle in this area in the early 1800s from Scotland. Collectively, the brothers accumulated 1000 acres along the Don Valley, building a saw mill on the west side of the river and a grist mill on the east side. These mills and others built along the Don River are what gave rise to the name Don Mills. Now a private golf course, the grist mill remains on the property along with two of the brothers' houses and some farm buildings later built by another family who purchased pieces of the property.
- Laurentide Park
110 Laurentide Drive
A tree-lined 2.1 hectare park near York Mills Road and the Don Valley Parkway that features an open green space.
- Three Valleys Park
82 Three Valleys Drive
This small neighbourhood park has 2 outdoor tennis courts and a playground.
- Sarah Collard Murals
Brookbanks Drive and Don Valley Parkway
The murals are titled 'Morning Ride' and 'Trillium Path'. The artist was especially receptive to community input during the creation of the murals subtly integrating elements such as the Donalda House Barns (originally a gristmill in the area) David Duncan House and Milne House, all of which enhance the murals' uniqueness to Don Mills. These and other elements are embedded in a colourful palatte representative of natural ecosystems found in the Don Valley.
- Senator O'Connor College School
60 Rowena Drive
This catholic high school is named after Senator Frank O'Connor. Notable alumni include: former Liberal Finance Minister Bill Morneau, long distance swimmer Cindy Nicholas, who was the first woman to complete a two-way crossing of the English Channel, Juno-Award-winning soprano Isabel Bayrakdarian, Nasri Atweh (Grammy-Award-winning lead singer of MAGIC!) and Tim Micallef of the sports talk radio show Tim & Friends.
- Maryvale Farm/Senator Frank O'Connor House
Along a paved trail leading east from Mission Drive. The house is on the north (left) side of the trail, just before Senator O'Connor College School.
*Note: Private property. Please observe the house from the street only. Built in 1933, this house was the home of politician and businessman Frank Patrick O'Connor. He was the founder of Laura Secord chocolates (which, back then, was a single shop on Yonge Street) and was also appointed to the Canadian Senate in 1935. The O'Connor Buildings, which include the estate, coach house, and shed, were given to the Toronto Catholic District School Board in 2000. Rehabilitation and renovation work began in 2010, to repair the deterioration that had occurred in the buildings. The estate is now used for various community organizations and as a teaching space.
- Broadlands Park
19 Castlegrove Boulevard
This 4.7 hectare park in the Lawrence and Victoria Park Avenue neighbourhood features a ball diamond, four tennis courts, a shuffleboard court and a children's playground. Adjacent to the park is the Broadlands Community Centre featuring an outdoor swimming pool and an outdoor artificial ice rink. In 2022, the tennis courts received new asphalt, new posts and nets, new fences surrounding the tennis courts and new light posts.
- Jubilee United Church
40 Underhill Drive
Fans of the TV show 'Orphan Black' will recognize this church as a filming location for its second season. Alison rehearses for the musical here and it's also the location of Aynsley's memorial service.
- Dan Bergeron Mural
Underpass on Lawrence Avenue East, west of Carnforth Road
Representing the divergent themes of nature and architecture this visually striking mural relates to both the physical and historical aspects of the surrounding community.
Accessibility information: Most points of interest on this stroll are viewable from the street or paved park paths. Portions of Graydon Hall Park and Laurentide Park may require traversing grassy sections to access.
The StrollTO itineraries may follow routes that do not receive winter maintenance. Please review winter safety tips and for more information contact 311.
Soundtracks of the City
From global superstars to local favourites and ones to watch, the Soundtracks of the City playlists all feature artists who have called Toronto home. Whether it’s a lyric about the neighborhood, an artist representing a cultural community, or a tie-in to the StrollTO itinerary itself, all the music reflects connections to an individual ward or the City as a whole.
Music was chosen based on an artist’s Spotify presence and each song’s broad appeal, as well as its associations with the cultures, languages and ethnicities that reflect Toronto’s neighborhoods and diverse music scene. Soundtracks of the City combines 425 songs that feature more than 500 different local artists or acts, showcasing songs in 23 different languages.