June Rowlands Park

June Rowlands Park at 220 Davisville Avenue is a neighborhood gem in Toronto's midtown Davisville Village. Named after Toronto's first female mayor, the park packs an impressive amount into its footprint: a splash pad, playground, six tennis courts, a baseball diamond, a volleyball court, and plenty of green space.

For younger kids, the splash pad is the star attraction in summer. The ground-level water jets create patterns that toddlers and preschoolers run through endlessly. It operates seasonally during warmer months and gets busy on hot afternoons, so morning visits are the sweet spot. The adjacent playground has equipment for multiple age groups with rubberized safety surfaces.

Older kids and teens have more to work with here than at most Toronto parks. Six tennis courts (free, first-come-first-served) give families a chance to play together. The baseball diamond and volleyball court add more options, making this a park where a family with kids of mixed ages can all find something to do simultaneously.

The park is in a residential area with wide pathways that accommodate strollers easily. Shade from mature trees covers some areas but not the splash pad or tennis courts. There are basic washroom facilities on site, though quality varies. Benches and seating areas give parents resting spots with reasonable sightlines.

Davisville Village is one of Toronto's most family-oriented neighborhoods, and the surrounding area reflects that. Bayview Avenue and Mount Pleasant Road have family-friendly restaurants and shops. The Davisville TTC station on Line 1 is about a 10-minute walk, making the park accessible by transit.

This is the kind of park where you can spend two hours because everyone in the family has something to do. Toddlers at the splash pad, middle kids on the playground, teens or parents on the tennis courts — it works as a family activity rather than just a toddler distraction.