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Another beautiful park located on the South side of Lakeshore Blvd. in Etobicoke is the Marie Curtis Park. It’s probably best known among families with small children for its playground area and splash area. There is more to this beautiful park than just the playground, however.
The main attraction for families is the large children’s play area with a playground, a wading pool and a supervised beach (July and August). All you need is to bring a lunch, some blankets and towels and enjoy a scenic waterfront picnic while your kids are happily splashing away or burning energy on the playground or surrounding fields.
Situated along the scenic Etobicoke Creek, Marie Curtis Park features many perfect picnic spots for a weekend barbecue with friends or family.
If you feel more ambitious, the Etobicoke Creek Trail will take you along a sight-seeing route of the creek until Horner Avenue (1.8km). There are opportunities for bird watching and spying of marsh nests of various water birds. The trail is paved, so it is bike / rollerblade / stroller friendly.
Marie Curtis park is easily reachable by public transit, as it is a short 5-minute walk from the Long Branch GO station, also a stop for Mississauga Transit buses, the 501 streetcar and various Etobicoke buses. Cars enter the parking lot from 42nd street South of Lakeshore Blvd West or across Etobicoke Creek from Lakeshore Road East.
July 8th, 2008 at 9:53 pm
History of Marie Curtis Park:
Named in honour of Marie Curtis-Reeve of Long Branch to commemorate her outstanding contributions to municipal government in the village of Long Branch and the municipality of metropolitan Toronto from 1953 to 1962.
Officially opened by Frederick G. Gardiner, Q.C., L.L.D.
Chairman municipality of metropolitan Toronto
June 5, 1959
July 8th, 2008 at 9:56 pm
History behind the place of Marie Curtis Park:
THE TORONTO PURCHASE
In August, 1788, Alexander Aitkin commenced the survey of the Western boundary of the lands purchased from the Mississauga indians near here, at the mouth of Etobocoke Creek.
Etobicoke Historical Board, 1988
July 9th, 2008 at 8:51 pm
Marie Curtis Park Playground was opened in November 1999.
This play structure was made possible through through the generous contributions of: City of Toronto, Arvin Ride Control Products, Goodyear Canada Inc, Mack Canada Inc, Royal Canadian Legion branch 101, Toronto Profession Firefighters’ Association and many others in the community.
Thanks to everyone who helped to make this dream a reality.
Playground equipment is made by “Little Tikes commercial play systems”
July 9th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
“Please walk on the Grass”
(Watch slide show above to see how it looks like)
July 9th, 2008 at 10:12 pm
Sign #2
WATERFOWL
Waterfowl such as geese and ducks are found in this habitat, which includes Lake Ontario, Etobicoke Creek and the surrounding valley. The feet on all waterfowl species are webbed to help them swim better. Their flat beaks, or bills, allow them to filter small plants and animals from from the water or eat seed from the mud.
The two species found in this area are Canada geese and Mallard ducks. Swans also frequent the lake.
Male and female geese have the same appearance. The male Mallard has green head, white neckband and rusty breast. The female Mallard is a mottled brown.
Canada geese and Mallard ducks use this area as a seasonal home and temporary stopover during migration from the northern USA and Canada in summer to the southern USA and Mexico in the winter. Although both species are migratory, many many remain during winter because of loss of habitats along migratory routes, and perhaps because people feed them. Overpopulation of waterfowl may contribute to high bacterial counts in the waters near the beach.