Riverdale Playground

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Listen closely. Riverdale Playground whispers stories of generations. It’s a place where children’s laughter echoes through time. The playground itself isn’t ancient. It’s relatively new. But the land it sits on holds a rich history. Imagine a time long before swings and slides. This very spot was part of John Scadding’s farm. He cultivated wheat rye barley oats and maize. His orchards yielded apples and other fruits. Asparagus celery hemp and melons thrived here. Roses bloomed in his garden. Sheep grazed in the meadows. This peaceful scene transformed. In 1856 the City of Toronto acquired the land. They built the Don Jail. This wasn’t the playground’s beginning. Riverdale Park however opened in 1880. The jail was separated from the park a decade later. The park grew over time eventually reaching its current size. Toronto’s first zoo once resided within Riverdale Park’s boundaries. The zoo opened in 1894. It closed in 1974. The animals moved to the new Toronto Zoo. In the 1960s the Don Valley Parkway sliced through the park. It reduced the park’s size. The city then embarked on an ambitious improvement plan enhancing sports facilities. Riverdale Farm opened in 1978. It’s a historic site and education center. Today you see the playground. You see the legacy of this land. From farm to jail to park to playground. Riverdale Playground carries echoes of the past. The playground stands as a testament to the land’s enduring spirit. A place for children to play a place with a vibrant past. Come let the playground’s story transport you.

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