Route
Designed to be a self guided pedestrian loop between Charles Street and Gerrard Street, centered on Yonge Street, this 3 km route connects green spaces in the busy downtown urban core. Still in the planning stages, there will be 12 parks along the route, along with many interesting art installations and architectural spaces. Wayfinding is being finalized, stay tuned for more updates!
Points of Interest
Parks
Landmarks
- George Hislop Park, 20 Isabella Street: The park is named after gay and lesbian rights activist George Hislop (1927-2005). Part of the linear parks created as an afterthought when the subway tunnels were built along Yonge Street from 1949 to 1954. The linear parks include George Hislop Park, Norman Jewison Park, James Canning Gardens, and Alexander Street Parkette.
- Norman Jewison Park, 13 Isabella Street: Beloved Canadian director and producer Norman Jewison (1926-2024) inspired the name for this green space. Part of the linear parks created as an afterthought when the subway tunnels were built along Yonge Street from 1949 to 1954. The linear parks include George Hislop Park, Norman Jewison Park, James Canning Gardens, and Alexander Street Parkette.
- James Canning Gardens, 15 Gloucester Street:Part of the linear parks created as an afterthought when the subway tunnels were built along Yonge Street from 1949 to 1954. The linear parks include George Hislop Park, Norman Jewison Park, James Canning Gardens, and Alexander Street Parkette.
- Alexander Street Parkette, 16 Alexander Street: Part of the linear parks created as an afterthought when the subway tunnels were built along Yonge Street from 1949 to 1954. The linear parks include George Hislop Park, Norman Jewison Park, James Canning Gardens, and Alexander Street Parkette.
- Joseph Sheard Parkette, 11 Granby Street: Architect and former Toronto Mayor Joseph Sheard once lived in a house on the site of the parkette. Born in Yorkshire, England, he emigrated to York in 1833 with no financial resources. Famous for refusing to build a gallows to hang rebels Samuel Lount and Peter Matthews in the 1837 Rebellion.
- Turko Park, 17 McGill Street (also known as McGill Parkette, 9 McGill Street) Created from a closed intersection in the early 1980’s, it is the location of the McGill Street Arch, recovered when the St. Andrew’s United Church on Bloor Street East that was built in 1923, was demolished in 1981.
- College Park, 420 Yonge Street: Original location of Eaton's College Street that opened in 1930, a scaled back vision of Sir John Craig Eaton. The department store closed in 1977 when the Eaton Centre opened at Yonge and Dundas. The 7th floor was an event space designed by French architect Jacques Carlu that featured performances by Glenn Gould, Billie Holiday and Duke Ellington in its heyday. The space relaunched as event space The Carlu in 2003.
- Opera Place Park, 25 Breadalbane Street: Designed by Montreal artist Barbara Steinman, this half acre park was created in 2002 by the City of Toronto and East of Bay 1997 Development Corporation as "Leaf Garden". The theme of the park is nature, and the pathways are leaf shaped. The water feature is programmed to mist/spray a line of poetry by Paul Celan “it’s time the stone consented to bloom” in Morse code. The park was part of a site originally proposed as the location of a world class opera house, but that never materialized. It was subsequently renamed "Opera Place Park".
- Dr. Lillian McGregor Park, 25 Wellesley Street West: The 1.6 acre L shaped park is named for Dr. Lillian McGregor of the Whitefish River First Nation who was recognized for her contributions in education and honouring indigenous culture. The artwork of crane figures, reed screens, feather canopy and a medicine wheel are inspired by Dr. McGregor’s family clan sign. The park was open to the public in September 2022. There are spaces for relaxing, gathering, and a children’s playground.
- Clover Hill Park, 50 St. Joseph Street: In November 2020, Clover Hill Park was welcomed by the community as a much needed green space. The cost of the park improvements for the City of Toronto came from Section 37 development funds. The park features seating areas, bike racks, water bottle filling station and a children’s playground with a water splash pad. A memorial bench celebrating Dr. Christine Buske by the Primrose sculpture provides a place to rest and reflect on the extraordinary University of Toronto student, educator and researcher who passed away in 2019.
Landmarks
- Sky Gilbert Lane: In 2014, the laneway behind Buddies in Bad Times Theatre was named to honour Sky Gilbert, the founding Artistic Director of the Theatre.
- St. Charles Clock Tower: Originally part of Toronto Fire Hall Number 3 built in 1871, it became home to the iconic St. Charles Tavern at 484 Yonge Street, a landmark in Toronto’s gay community.
- Central YMCA: The Central YMCA was built in 1984 and designed by Diamond Schmitt Architects. It has received numerous design awards: the 2018 Prix du XXe siècle from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) and the Heritage Canada The National Trust; 1988 Award of Excellence from the Ontario Association of Architects; and the 1986 Governor General's Awards for Architecture and 1982 Award of Excellence from the Canadian Architect Awards.
Neighbourhoods
Bay Cloverhill is the area bounded by Charles Street West, Queen's Park Crescent, College Street and Yonge Street. About 20,000 residents live in numerous condominium and apartment buildings. Quaint St. Nicholas Street features historic cottage residences on a cobblestone street. The Bay Cloverhill Community Association advocates for residents and businesses in the area.
Church Wellesley goes from Charles Street East, Gerrard Street, Yonge Street to Jarvis Street. The Village is known as the centre of the annual Pride festival and is a mecca for LGBTQ+ nightclubs and businesses. The 519 is a non profit community centre located at 519 Church Street. Residents are represented by the Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association www.cwna.ca/.
McGill Granby Village covers Carlton Street, Yonge Street, Jarvis Street and Gerrard Street East. The area is known for the contrast between late 19th century low rise homes on other side of Church Street, which has high rise residential towers and retail. The Toronto Metropolitan University is located just south. The community is represented by the McGill-Granby Village Residents Association.
There are three business improvement areas (BIA) whose boundaries include the Clock Tower Trail. Bloor Yorkville Business Improvement Area https://www.bloor-yorkville.com/ in the north, Church Wellesley Business Improvement Area www.churchwellesleyvillage.ca/ on the east, and Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area downtownyonge.com/ in the south. Commercial property owners, office and retail businesses form a BIA to improve the physical and business environment by advocating, programming and undertaking local improvements.
Church Wellesley goes from Charles Street East, Gerrard Street, Yonge Street to Jarvis Street. The Village is known as the centre of the annual Pride festival and is a mecca for LGBTQ+ nightclubs and businesses. The 519 is a non profit community centre located at 519 Church Street. Residents are represented by the Church Wellesley Neighbourhood Association www.cwna.ca/.
McGill Granby Village covers Carlton Street, Yonge Street, Jarvis Street and Gerrard Street East. The area is known for the contrast between late 19th century low rise homes on other side of Church Street, which has high rise residential towers and retail. The Toronto Metropolitan University is located just south. The community is represented by the McGill-Granby Village Residents Association.
There are three business improvement areas (BIA) whose boundaries include the Clock Tower Trail. Bloor Yorkville Business Improvement Area https://www.bloor-yorkville.com/ in the north, Church Wellesley Business Improvement Area www.churchwellesleyvillage.ca/ on the east, and Downtown Yonge Business Improvement Area downtownyonge.com/ in the south. Commercial property owners, office and retail businesses form a BIA to improve the physical and business environment by advocating, programming and undertaking local improvements.
History
The Clock Tower Trail name was inspired by the historic St. Charles Clock Tower at 484-488 Yonge Street that was restored as part of the Immix apartment building construction. Located near the centre of the pedestrian walk, as part of the St. Charles Tavern, it was a landmark in Toronto’s gay community. It was a witness to much history and LGBTQ+ discrimination over the years.
Toronto Fire Hall Number 3 was built in 1871 by architects James Grand and William Irving. The clock tower provided a space for firefighters in horse drawn fire trucks to hang their rubber lined cotton fire hoses to dry. It took a few days for the hoses hoisted by block and pulley to dry out, preventing rotting of the hoses.
The fire hall was closed in 1929 when a new fire station opened at 12 Grosvenor. Ironically the lower part of the building burned in 1939. In 1951, the St. Charles Tavern opened after some of the original building was demolished. The Victorian style clock tower was relocated in 2018 as part of the redevelopment of the site to IMMIX a rental apartment building, a short distance north and east of the original location.
A few dedicated Bay Cloverhill Community Association volunteers had a vision to create a downtown inner green loop walking promenade connecting neighbourhoods, green spaces and parks and beginning in the northeast at Charles Street East. The loop passes through the three linear parks to the south. Crossing Wellesley Street, the walk continues south crossing Carlton Street and onto Granby Street and McGill Parkette where a pedestrian signalized traffic light would allow crossing Yonge Street before moving north through College Park to Grenville Street.
The path would traverse the 2G Grenville-Grosvenor development and move north along Opera Place Park and the Leaf Garden through the new Dr. Lillian McGregor Park and up Bay Street to the Learning Lane. The walk passes through Clover Hill Park and along St. Mary Street before returning along Charles Street to the start.
Suitable lighting, signage, trail markers, and some tabled crosswalks will make navigation safe and easy. This green pathway would encourage residents to be physically active and engage with their fellow residents in the neighbourhood. While some sections exist or are being developed, the goal is to encourage future developments to contribute to the Clock Tower Trail Loop to allow it to become a respected and valued feature of the neighbourhood.
The original working name used by volunteers was the Green Loop. When the City got involved, it was referred to as the North Downtown Yonge Green Loop. A naming contest in 2024 selected the Clock Tower Trail as the preferred option.
In 2024, the inaugural Clock Tower Trail in Downtown Toronto walk was part of the annual Jane's Walk Festival and was led by two of our long term volunteers. It travelled the pathway through parks in the Bay Cloverhill, Church Wellesley and McGill Granby Village neighbourhoods. Art installations, historic landmarks and noteworthy buildings were integrated into the walk.
Toronto Fire Hall Number 3 was built in 1871 by architects James Grand and William Irving. The clock tower provided a space for firefighters in horse drawn fire trucks to hang their rubber lined cotton fire hoses to dry. It took a few days for the hoses hoisted by block and pulley to dry out, preventing rotting of the hoses.
The fire hall was closed in 1929 when a new fire station opened at 12 Grosvenor. Ironically the lower part of the building burned in 1939. In 1951, the St. Charles Tavern opened after some of the original building was demolished. The Victorian style clock tower was relocated in 2018 as part of the redevelopment of the site to IMMIX a rental apartment building, a short distance north and east of the original location.
A few dedicated Bay Cloverhill Community Association volunteers had a vision to create a downtown inner green loop walking promenade connecting neighbourhoods, green spaces and parks and beginning in the northeast at Charles Street East. The loop passes through the three linear parks to the south. Crossing Wellesley Street, the walk continues south crossing Carlton Street and onto Granby Street and McGill Parkette where a pedestrian signalized traffic light would allow crossing Yonge Street before moving north through College Park to Grenville Street.
The path would traverse the 2G Grenville-Grosvenor development and move north along Opera Place Park and the Leaf Garden through the new Dr. Lillian McGregor Park and up Bay Street to the Learning Lane. The walk passes through Clover Hill Park and along St. Mary Street before returning along Charles Street to the start.
Suitable lighting, signage, trail markers, and some tabled crosswalks will make navigation safe and easy. This green pathway would encourage residents to be physically active and engage with their fellow residents in the neighbourhood. While some sections exist or are being developed, the goal is to encourage future developments to contribute to the Clock Tower Trail Loop to allow it to become a respected and valued feature of the neighbourhood.
The original working name used by volunteers was the Green Loop. When the City got involved, it was referred to as the North Downtown Yonge Green Loop. A naming contest in 2024 selected the Clock Tower Trail as the preferred option.
In 2024, the inaugural Clock Tower Trail in Downtown Toronto walk was part of the annual Jane's Walk Festival and was led by two of our long term volunteers. It travelled the pathway through parks in the Bay Cloverhill, Church Wellesley and McGill Granby Village neighbourhoods. Art installations, historic landmarks and noteworthy buildings were integrated into the walk.