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. There are 12 parks along the route, along with many interesting art installations and architectural spaces.
Points of Interest
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.