Earl Bales Park facts for kids
Earl Bales Park is a big park located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. A part of the West Don River flows right through it. It's a great place for outdoor activities and learning about nature!
Quick facts for kids Earl Bales Park |
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| Location | 4169 Bathurst Street |
| Area | 127 acres (51 ha) |
| Created | 1969-1975 |
| Operated by | Toronto Parks |
| Open | 1975 |
| Website | Earl Bales Park |
Park History
This large park, which is about 127 acres (51 ha) big, used to be a farm owned by a man named John Bales. Later, in 1922, it became the York Downs Golf and Country Club.
In 1969, the golf club moved to Unionville, Ontario. This meant the land was available for something new. Instead of building houses or other buildings, the city decided to turn it into a public park. Earl Bales Park officially opened in 1975. The Don Valley Golf Course is located next to the park on its east and south sides.
The old John Bales House, which was built way back in 1824, was used by the golf club's groundskeeper from 1922 to 1969. The park is named after Robert Earl Bales, who was a leader (called a Reeve) of North York Township from 1934 to 1940. He was also the great-grandson of the original owner, John Bales.
What Can You Do at the Park?
Earl Bales Park is more than just a green space. It's also home to several cool places and activities:
- North York Ski Centre
- Barry Zukerman Amphitheatre
- Earl Bales Community Centre
- Spirit of Bravery Statue
North York Ski Centre
| North York Ski Centre | |
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| Location | Toronto, Ontario, Canada |
| Coordinates | 43°45′14″N 79°25′47.20″W / 43.75389°N 79.4297778°W |
| Night skiing | yes |
| Website | Earl Bales Ski & Snowboard Centre |
The North York Ski Centre (also known as the Earl Bales Ski & Snowboard Centre) is a small hill where you can go alpine skiing. It's located inside Earl Bales Park, near Bathurst Street (Toronto) and Sheppard Avenue in Toronto.
This ski centre has one special chairlift that can carry four people at a time, called a quad chair. It also has a rope tow, which is a simple lift where you hold onto a rope. There are three slopes for people who are a bit more experienced and one slope that's perfect for beginners. It's one of only two ski hills found within the city limits of Toronto! The hill itself was formed naturally by the edge of the Don River.
A few years ago, around 2011 and 2012, the old chairlift kept breaking down. People thought the ski centre might close. But instead, the city decided to make it better by adding the new quad chairlift. The old lift system is still there, and that part of the hill is still used.
Park Roads
The park has one named road called Raoul Wallenberg Road. This road is named after Raoul Wallenberg, a brave person who saved many lives during World War II. The road connects Bathurst Street (Toronto) to the parking lot at the Earl Bales Community Centre.
There's also another road in the park that doesn't have a name. It connects Raoul Wallenberg Road to the parking lots for the ski hill. Besides these roads, the park has many walking trails that wind through the forest, perfect for exploring!
