Located in southwestern Toronto, Parkdale is situated between Lake Ontario and Little Portugal. From its origins as a nineteenth century village, Parkdale has changed with the times. Packed with restaurants and bars, Parkdale offers a great social scene. Excellent transit options and roadways provide rapid access to the rest of the rea.

Within the Parkdale neighbourhood, you can stroll to a variety of restaurants, parks and other points of interest. Bar Fancy (1070 Queen St. W.), Dandylion (1198 Queen St. W.,), The Commodore (1265 Queen St. W.) and Branca (1727 Dundas St. W.) stand out as some of Parkdale`s best places to eat. When you live in Parkdale, you`ll never lack for interesting cuisine to sample. Beyond dining, make sure you check out Toronto Tool`s Library where you can borrow a tool for a quick project and return it. Discerning foodies will appreciate The Westend Food Co-op that strives to provide sustainable food to the area. Seeking something different to do for the weekend? Fortunately, you don’t have to travel far from Parkdale to see and experience new activities. To the south, you will find BMO Field where Toronto FC competes in Major League Soccer (MLS) less than a fifteen minute drive away. Likewise, concerts, fairs and other activities are frequently held at the Exhibition Place, the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) and Ricoh Coliseum are nearby. From Parkdale,

Parkdale has two subareas each with a slightly difference character: North Parkdale and South Parkdale. These areas are divided by the North Parkdale has an average individual income of $46,000. In contrast, South Parkdale is predominantly a renter community with an average personal income around $30,000. Parkdale is linguistically diverse – expect to hear Hungarian, Polish and Tibetan spoken in the area. Parkdale`s business scene reflects the area`s successful immigrants – more than half of local businesses are owned by immigrants.

Parkdale housing is affordable compared to the rest of Toronto. In early 2017, the median selling price for homes in the area was less than $500,000 (as per Toronto W06 real estate statistics). However, Parkdale detached homes regularly sell for more than $900,000. Sales tend to move a bit slower in the area so you have the time to ask more questions and make sure the home fits your needs. Condo properties in the area tend to sell in the $500,000 to $600,000 range

Parkdale is known as a highly walkable neighbourhood open to new Canadians. With a Walkscore of 87, it will come as no surprise that 70% of residents walk or bicycle to work each day. You will also find the area is well supplied with several hundred parking spots for cars. Cyclists will find over two hundred bicycle parking spots to ease their daily travel. Parkdale provides access to recreational facilities and green spaces locally and a short trip away. High Park (and the High Park Zoo!) are just ten minutes away by car. The Parkdale Community Recreation Centre has two gyms, a pool and a fully functional kitchen for events. On Lakeshore West, the Palais Royale is a popular venue for music, weddings and other events.

Parkdale offers a rare combination of quality schools and affordable homes. The neighbourhood is well supplied with highly regarded restaurants and bars. Influenced by Little Portugal and Chinese culture, Parkdale has evolved far beyond its roots as a nineteenth century village. For a walkable neighbourhood set apart from the downtown grind, Parkdale is an excellent choice.

Parkdale’s modern history began in the 1870s when it was incorporated as a village. Over a century ago, Parkdale was known as a wealthy suburb to Toronto. That history lives on today in the area’s housing and buildings – many homes in the area date from the early 20th century. The arrival of the Gardiner Expressway in the 1950s changed Parkdale dramatically. On the one hand, the area no longer had direct access to Lake Ontario. On the other hand, residents now had improved transportation options to downtown Toronto and Mississauga to the west. Parkdale`s economy has gone through major shifts over the years. In the 19th century, Parkdale was best known as a commuter community somewhat distinct from Toronto proper. From the early 1900s to the 1960s, Parkdale was dominated by industry and manufacturing including war production during the First World War. The broader decline of manufacturing across Toronto also impacted Parkdale in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, the area`s economy features restaurants, small shops and other service sector organizations.

Parkdale is well served by multiple high quality schools. Elementary students in the neighbourhood may attend Queen Victoria Public School (Grades JK-8) and Parkdale Public School. Queen Victoria Public School`s program includes a variety of arts and cultural programs to stimulate creativity and self-expression. Parkdale Public School operates as a ``dual track`` system where students can enroll in either English or French immersion instruction. Parkdale Public School also provides a homework assistance program featuring access to certified math teachers. Parkdale Collegiate Institute is one of a handful of public schools in Toronto to offers the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. Earning the IB diploma means a student is well prepared for the demands of university and college study. Parkdale Collegiate Institute is also notable for its environmental achievements – it has earned distinction as a platinum eco-school. Established over a century ago, Holy Family Catholic School delivers Catholic elementary education to Parkdale. Holy Family offers cross country as well as track and field activities to students. In the near future, the school will have a child care centre available – an excellent service to local parents. The school also has a long established program to provide overnight trip experiences to the outdoors for Grade 7 and 8 students.

Getting to and from Parkdale is easy thanks to the area`s proximity to major streets. To travel downtown, drives have the option of using the Gardiner Expressway. Alternately, you can directly access downtown Toronto via King St West and Queen St West. By car, you can reach the Air Canada Centre in approximately forty minutes (roughly the same time by public transit). For short trips around the neighbourhood, your best bet is to walk and bicycle especially during the summer.