Riverdale Park, Toronto: A Story of Parks, Prisons, Zoos, and Public Life
A Toronto Travel & History Editorial
Toronto, Ontario, Canada | August 2026
| Discover the rich history of Riverdale Park in Toronto — from the haunted Don Jail and the beloved Riverdale Zoo to the legacy of trailblazing alderman William Peyton Hubbard.. A guide to one of Toronto’s most storied green spaces. |
The commanding Toronto skyline as seen from the eastern hill of Riverdale Park — one of the city’s most celebrated vantage points.
Stand on the eastern hill of Riverdale Park on a clear summer evening, and the city unfolds like a painting. The CN Tower anchors the skyline to the west, the Don River valley breathes green below, and amid the hum of traffic and birdsong, this place holds more stories than many Toronto visitors discover. Riverdale Park is one of the city’s oldest green spaces — a 104-acre expanse straddling the Lower Don River, with Cabbagetown to the west and the Riverdale neighbourhood to the east. Its story includes a historic jail, a beloved zoo, a working farm for visitors, and the remarkable life of a Black politician who shaped the city’s future.
From Farmland to Public Park — The Origins of Riverdale Park
The land that became Riverdale Park started its civic life in 1856 when Toronto purchased 119 acres from the Scadding estate. John Scadding had connections to John Graves Simcoe, the first Lieutenant Governor of Upper Canada. The city aimed to establish a public park and an industrial farm. Officially opened on August 11, 1880, the park was built over garbage and manure landfill laid by prisoners from Don Jail.
By 1884, the annexation of Riverdale allowed for expansion across the Don River to a total of 162 acres. However, the construction of the Don Valley Parkway in the 1960s reduced the park to approximately 104 acres, highlighting the impact of urban development on green spaces.
The Don Jail — Toronto’s Palace for Prisoners
The former Don Jail (1864), designed by architect William Thomas, now forms the heritage wing of Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital. The grounds were later landscaped into Hubbard Park.
Looming at the southwestern edge of the park, the Don Jail is one of Toronto’s most striking landmarks. Built between 1858 and 1864 by architect William Thomas in an Italianate style, it was initially seen as a rehabilitative institution, with large windows, an exercise yard, and a working farm for inmates.
Prisoners tended the grounds of Riverdale Park and cared for animals at the Riverdale Zoo. However, the jail’s history includes 26 executions, notably the last hangings in Canada on December 11, 1962. Closed in 1977, the jail was transformed in 2013 into the administrative wing of Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital, while the grounds were turned into Hubbard Park, honoring a key figure in the neighborhood.
“His portrait hangs in the office of the Mayor of Toronto — a quiet testament to a legacy too long overlooked.”
William Peyton Hubbard — The Remarkable Man Behind Hubbard Park
Of all the important figures in Riverdale Park’s history, William Peyton Hubbard stands out. Born on January 27, 1842, he became Toronto’s first Black elected official in 1894 when he won a seat as an alderman. Known as “Old Cicero” for his impressive speeches, Hubbard served multiple terms on the city council and the Toronto Board of Control. In 1904, he was the first person of colour to win a citywide election in Toronto.
Hubbard advocated for public ownership of Toronto’s water and electricity, contributing to the creation of Ontario Hydro. After retiring, he lived on Broadview Avenue near the park named for him, and he is buried at the Toronto Necropolis. His former home at 660 Broadview Avenue is now Hubbard House, and his portrait can be seen in the Mayor of Toronto’s office. Hubbard Park, officially named in his honor in 2016, is a significant tribute to his influence on the Riverdale community.
The Riverdale Zoo — Toronto’s First Wild Kingdom
Long before the Metro Toronto Zoo opened in Scarborough, Torontonians experienced wild animals in the Don Valley. In 1894, Alderman Daniel Lamb helped acquire animals for public display. What started with wolves and deer expanded by 1902 to include camels, bears, monkeys, and even a hippopotamus. The Toronto Railway Company recorded 20,000 visitors during the first weekend of lion and elephant displays, reflecting the city’s excitement.
A Moorish-style pavilion called the Donnybrook was built in 1902, adding an exotic touch to the zoo. Operating for over 75 years, it became a symbol of family life and civic pride. The zoo closed quietly at sunset on June 30, 1974, when the animals were moved to the new Metro Toronto Zoo, ending one era but preserving the legacy of the land.
Riverdale Farm — Where the Zoo Once Roared
Riverdale Farm, operating on the same west-side site as the former Riverdale Zoo, welcomes families year-round — free of charge — to connect with heritage-breed animals and 19th-century Ontario farm life.
Four years after the zoo’s animals left, Riverdale Farm opened on September 9, 1978, on the same 7.5-acre site where lions and camels once roamed. The farm features a 19th-century Ontario farmstead with heritage-breed livestock, gardens, and ponds, providing a tranquil escape from the city.
Three original zoo structures remain, including the Donnybrook Ruin from the 1902 Moorish pavilion, and the Francey Barn, an 1858 barn moved from Markham Township. Riverdale Farm is free to visit year-round, making it a great destination for families and history lovers seeking a break from urban life.
Riverdale Park Today — Green Space, Skyline Views, and Summer Movies
The Riverdale Park today is vibrant and inviting, built on a rich history. Riverdale Park East features soccer and baseball fields, a running track, a swimming pool, tennis courts, and an outdoor hockey rink for winter skaters. A picturesque footbridge connects the park’s east and west sides, linking to the Lower Don Recreational Trail, a prime cycling and walking route.
The eastern hill serves as a natural amphitheatre for community events, summer festivals, and free outdoor movie screenings at dusk. Residents can enjoy the skyline as a backdrop, bringing blankets and picnics. Hennick Bridgepoint Hospital and a monument to Sun Yat-Sen enhance the area, while the historic Toronto Necropolis lies just across Sumach Street, reminding visitors of the neighborhood’s storied past.
| Riverdale Park is far more than a green space tucked between two Toronto neighbourhoods. It is a living archive of the city’s social, political, and natural history — a place where a progressive jail once stood, a zoo once roared, and a visionary Black politician once walked home along Broadview Avenue after changing his city for the better. Whether you are tracing the footsteps of William Peyton Hubbard, spreading a blanket on the eastern hill for an evening film under the stars, or watching heritage pigs root contentedly at Riverdale Farm, this remarkable corner of Toronto rewards every single visit. |
