Barbara Hall Park

This is a beautiful space next to the 519 Community Centre. They have fantastic, free live music very often in the summer, there are plenty of benches where you can sit down and take a rest, and there is even green space and a bit of a play area for kids. It's a lovely oasis in the middle of the busy, commercial, vibrant Church-Wellesley Village. My biggest issue with it is that it really is difficult to relax there simply because there are so many people - it's certainly not the place to go for some alone time. Another smaller issue I have is the orientation of the benches - I would prefer perhaps outward- facing squares or triangles, or at least some more variety. I think all the benches face either north or south and I'd like at least some facing east or west.
7 years ago (16-12-2017)

Barbra Hall pk. Is a very small pk attached to the 519. There is a rose garden and a memorial to those lost to the Aids disease. Names are inscribed and once a year there there is an aids vigil are Pride. It is always very moving. There are hanging lights and so is always colourful no matter the season. It is a lovely spot to sit and chat or read or rember. A great little park.
7 years ago (27-12-2017)

I love this park. I really do. But that's likely due to a local bias. If I didn't live in the Village, I wouldn't come here. It is a popular hangout for addicts. They trash the place out every night. You'll see lots of hostility and fights. That said, the BIA is putting in a lot of work to improve the park. They host performances and all kinds of fun stuff there. The cops say they'll start having more of a presence, too. This park will be wonderful space to be enjoyed by all Torontonians some day. But not today.
7 years ago (25-10-2017)

Disaster of a park. Drug addicts. Criminals that bully the neighborhood. Damaging the park. Constantly fighting with each other. Running into traffic. Do not take your children or dogs here. Used needles and crack pipes. AIDS memorial used by criminals for toilets and drug using. And the city does not care. It's a homophobia 2.0. Push criminals out of other parts of downtown and then ignore them when they start bullying and destroying Toronto's gay village.
7 years ago (14-12-2017)

This is the second time my dog has been attacked by a dog at this park, and no owner takes responsibility for their dog's aggression. Even though it is very convenient to come to this park (700m from our house), we will take the extra time and go to Allan Gardens off leash park.
7 years ago (16-01-2018)