Human History of Toronto's High Park

Explore thousands of years of human history on the land we now call High Park—one of Toronto’s most iconic and beloved urban green spaces.

High Park as we know it today was established in 1873, but its human story stretches back thousands of years.

Archaeological evidence reveals that Indigenous peoples lived in this area as early as 7,000 BCE, drawn by its rich resources and the Humber River—a vital trade route connecting Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay. By the 1600s, a Mohawk-Seneca village called Taiaiako’n thrived near the Humber northwest of High Park. Residents cleared land with fire and cultivated crops such as corn, beans, and maize. The first Europeans arrived in the region during the 17th century.

This timeline explores the deep human history of High Park — from its earliest inhabitants to John Howard’s purchase, the deeding of the land to the City of Toronto and its transformation into one of Toronto’s most beloved green spaces.

9,000 - 7,000 BCE: Earliest Evidence of Human Presence

More than 11,000 years ago, near the end of the last Ice Age, glacial meltwater formed Lake Iroquois, whose shoreline reached as far north as present-day Davenport Road, placing what we today call High Park under 60 metres of water. As the lake drained, the shoreline retreated 5–10 km south of where Toronto’s shoreline lies today.

It was around this time along this ancient shoreline that a Paleoamerican family left their mark not far from High Park. Their moccasin-clad footprints were preserved in clay for 11,000 years, and were found at the bottom of the lake near Hanlan’s Point in the Toronto Islands.

Learn More: Geology of Toronto’s High Park

The First Peoples of the Region

Various First Nations communities established villages along Toronto’s waterways, including the Humber River. These were linked by an extensive network of trails, most notably the Toronto Carrying Place Trail. Many modern streets around High Park like Indian Grove, Indian Road and Wendigo Way were originally Indigenous pathways.

Along these trails were vast expanses of savannah that are around 4,000 years old. Indigenous caretakers judiciously stewarded this Land using fire and relied on it for food, medicine, ceremony and other necessities.

Other important Indigenous sites in the area include numerous burial mounds and marker trees in High Park as well as the village of Taiaiako’n in the present-day Baby Point neighbourhood.

Learn More: Indigenous History of Today’s High Park

1600s and 1700s: Early European Colonization

When French explorers and fur traders began arriving in region in the 1600s, the Humber River and the Toronto Carrying Place Trail served as key routes. They would establish several important trading posts along the Humber just west of High Park.

After the Seven Years’ War ended in 1763, colonial control of the region was ceded to Britain. Following the American Revolutionary War in 1783, many Loyalists began moving into the area, prompting the Crown to acquire land from the Mississaugas of the Credit through the disputed Toronto Purchase. By the late 1700s, surveyed lots were being granted to settlers.

Learn More: The Toronto “Purchase” by Talking Treaties

1836: The Howards Purchase Land And Name It High Park

John G. Howard and his wife Jemima Frances Meikle immigrated to Toronto in 1832 from England. John Howard served as a prominent architect, engineer, and land surveyor in the city.

In 1836, John and Jemima would purchase 165 acres (66 hectares) of land west of Toronto stretching from Lake Ontario to Bloor Street. They name this property High Park because it was the highest point in the area overlooking Lake Ontario.

Learn More: Meet the Howards of High Park

1837: The Howards Build Colborne Lodge

John Howard designs and builds a Regency-style picturesque cottage on the south end of High Park and names it Colborne Lodge.

In time, Howard also acquires another large parcel of land east of High Park bounded by The Queensway, Bloor Street, Roncesvalles Avenue and Parkside Drive. He then sets himself up as a real estate developer, and lays out streets and lots for sale. He names the main north-south street on this land Indian Road, because it followed the path of an older Indigenous trail. In early years, most people found Howard’s properties too far from the city core, and sales were low.

Learn More: Colborne Lodge Museum

1873: High Park is deeded to the City of Toronto as a public park

The Howards and the City of Toronto reach an agreement to deed High Park as a public park for the benefit and enjoyment of the citizens of the City of Toronto.

With the exception of Colborne Lodge and their small sheep farm, High Park would be left in its natural state. In exchange, the Howards would receive an annual pension of $1,200 and be allowed to reside at Colborne Lodge.

In 1878, John Howard is appointed as the park’s first forest ranger.

Learn More: The Establishment of High Park

1877: Jemima Howard Dies

1890: John Howard Dies

After their deaths, the Howards are buried at a tomb near Colborne Lodge. This tomb was designed and built by John Howard in 1874.

One of the conditions of the deed between the Howards and the City of Toronto was that they would be buried in the park and that their graves would be maintained by the City in perpetuity.

The remaining 45 acres of property, Colborne Lodge and its outbuildings and the tomb are transferred to the city. Not long after his death, the City extends streetcar service into the park, and the homebuyers Howard had long waited for, began to arrive to the neighbourhood.

1850s - 1950s: The Changing Boundaries of High Park

When High Park was deeded to the City of Toronto, it measured 120 acres, with the Howards retaining another 45 acres in the south of the park around Colborne Lodge until their deaths.

In 1876, the City added 172 acres in the east of High Park from the Ridout family, and in 1930, 71 acres in the west from the Ellis estate bringing all of Grenadier Pond within park boundaries.

Earlier in 1854, Howard sold 2 acres south of High Park for the construction of railway lines, severing Grenadier Pond’s natural link to Lake Ontario. In the 1950s, 11 acres of marshland were lost to The Queensway expansion.

Today, High Park spans 399 acres (161 hectares).

Late 1800s - Early 1900s: High Park Becomes a Popular Destination in Toronto

The turn of the century saw neighbourhoods around High Park grow rapidly alongside wide-scale construction across Toronto.

High Park quickly becomes a popular destination for Torontonians seeking to picnic, hike, snowshoe or toboggan in nature. This leads to increased public demand for active recreation in the park. Trees were cleared for playing fields, new access roads were built, boating rentals began on Grenadier Pond and non-native plants and turf grass were introduced. During this period, fire suppression policies ended the traditional controlled burns that had long sustained the land.

Notably in 1893, the City establishes the High Park Animal Display. This facility is the oldest animal attraction in Canada still in operation.

Learn More: High Park Animal Display

1914: High Park Forest School program begins

In the early 1900s, diseases like cholera and tuberculosis were common among children in Toronto’s low-income neighborhoods.

Sunshine and outdoor learning were considered the best remedies, inspiring the City of Toronto to launch summer Forest School programs for ill and malnourished children. High Park hosted the city’s second Forest School, starting with tents and platforms before a permanent facility was built in 1932.

By the 1960s, improved medicine and sanitation reduced disease rates, and the program closed in 1964.

Learn More: History of the High Park Forest School

1950s and 1960s: High Park Transforms Into A Major Recreation Hub

During the 1950s and 1960s, a major shift in city policy transformed High Park into a hub for organized recreation. New amenities were introduced, including the Hillside Gardens, a public swimming pool, playgrounds, new tennis courts, concrete edging around ponds, and manicured turf grass lawns with designated picnic areas.

While these developments provided Torontonians with a wealth of recreational opportunities, they also came at an ecological cost: many of the park’s natural areas were lost or significantly altered.

Learn More: Iconic Landmarks of High Park

1970s - 1980s: Environmental Awareness Grows

Growing awareness of the significance of High Park’s natural environment leads to a number of research studies conducted by Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources and the City of Toronto.

As a result, a large portion of the park becomes designated provincially as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest, and by the City of Toronto as an Environmentally Significant Area. A half a century later, Grenadier Pond and would be declared as a Provincially Significant Wetland.

1990s: Major Conservation Efforts Begin in High Park

In the 90s, the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario begin various programs to restore and preserve the ecologically significant environment of High Park.

During this time, community awareness and conservation efforts also ramped up. In 1993, the High Park Natural Environment Committee was set up. In partnership with the City of Toronto, this committee actively supported the creation of the High Park Stewards program in 1996 and the High Park Nature Centre in 1999.

By 2000, after over a century of fire suppression, the City of Toronto in partnership with Indigenous communities brought back regular traditional and prescribed burns to manage the savannah in High Park.

Learn More: Traditional & Prescribed Burn

Land Acknowledgment

We acknowledge that our enjoyment of nature on the Land we today call High Park and Toronto, is due to the knowledge, stewardship and caretaking by many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples., and many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.