This Bedford Park neighbourhood guide will answer nearly every question you have about the area. Whether you would like to know about its architecture style, its recreational facilities and its history, you will certainly find a wealth of information about this charming neighbourhood that is geared toward families with young children.
Where Is Bedford Park Located?
Bedford Park is bordered by Avenue Road to the west, Ronan Avenue to the east, Deloraine Avenue / Snowdown Avenue to the north, and Lawrence Avenue East to the south.
Bedford Park’s History
It seems hard to imagine, but once upon a time, Bedford Park was a quaint farming hamlet that served as a perfect stopover for farmers travelling to the markets in Toronto to sell their produce. As the Metropolitan Street Railway expanded its streetcar line up into Bedford Park in 1890, the community rapidly changed in the early and mid 20th century to become much more akin to the neighbourhood we know and love today. The neighbourhood gets its name likely from the Bedford Park Hotel which opened in the neighbourhood in 1873.
What Is the Architectural Style Of Bedford Park?
No Bedford Park neighbourhood guide would be complete without an understanding of its architectural style. As mentioned above, the majority of the homes built in this neighbourhood were built between 1890 and 1940. These homes are a healthy mix of detached and semi-detached. However, over the years, many of the bungalows have been demolished and replaced with custom designed houses. This means there is a beautiful combination of modern and elegant homes with historic homes full of character.
Bedford Park’s Lifestyle
Yonge-Lawrence Village brings a lot of the fun that people seek downtown, uptown! If you are looking for a truly indulgent feasting experience, I strongly recommend Burger’s Priest. Their veggie burger is made from a deep-fried mushroom stuffed with cheese, and sometimes their buns are made from grilled cheese! Be sure to check out their website for their secret menu to see what crazy concoctions you can make.
If you are more of a specialty food fan, you must go to Kristapsons Salmon. A Toronto institution, Kristapsons has been in business since 1953 and is consistently voted as the city’s best smoked salmon.
If you care about amazing shoes but do not want to trek down to their Queen Street location, Getoutside has a location that is huge in Yonge-Lawrence Village! With over 4,000 square feet, this store is always very well stocked and surprisingly has great sales (something which the Queen Street location rarely does). You might just be able to find the Sperry’s of your dreams for $20!
To learn more about retailers, restaurants and more in Yonge Lawrence Village, check out the Yonge Lawrence Village Business Improvement Area’s website.
Recreation In Bedford Park
The largest park in Bedford Park is Wanless Park. If you love tennis, there are five floodlit courts for you to choose from. There is also a baseball diamond, a basketball court, as well as a playground and wading pool for your little ones. Right next to Wanless Park is Bedford Park Community Centre which houses a great gym and an indoor pool.
One of the real treasures of Bedford Park is The Fairlawn Neighbourhood Centre. This unique centre hosts a broad range of programming to all ages. It is without a doubt the hub of the Bedford Park community as over 2,500 members use the space and/or programming.
This Bedford Park neighbourhood guide could go on for days discussing all the parks and public libraries in the neighbourhood. There is so much to see, do and love about the neighbourhood. If you would like to learn more about Bedford Park please feel free to send me a message here. I would love to help make Bedford Park your new home.
