Sunnybrook Park

Sunnybrook Park
Sunnybrook Park in the autumn
Map
TypePublic park
LocationToronto, Ontario
Coordinates43°43′23″N 79°21′32″W / 43.723°N 79.359°W / 43.723; -79.359
Area147.1 acres (59.5 ha)
Created1928 (City of Toronto)
12 June 1969 (transferred to Metro Parks)
Operated byCity of Toronto
The road from Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre down into Sunnybrook Park in the fall

Sunnybrook Park is a large public park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located north of Leaside and south of the Bridle Path areas of the city. The park is home to many bike trails, dog parks, and Sunnybrook Stables.[1]

History

Sunnybrook was once a 175-acre farm property with horse stables, known as Sunnybrook Farm, situated in the Town of Leaside. It was owned by Joseph and Alice Kilgour and turned over to the City of Toronto in 1928.[2]

Kilgour was President of the Canada Paper Company and acquired the farm in 1890s.[3]

In 1933 Kilgour Memorial Gates at Bayview Avenue and Blythwood Road (since demolished) as well as a plaque at Wilket Creek Park were added to commemorate the Kilgour family's legacy and presence in the area.[citation needed]

Stables

Sunnybrook Stables is a horseback riding facility that has been open to the public since 1978.[4] The stables house roughly thirty horses, accompanied by two arenas: a 12,000 square-foot indoor arena built in 1982 for year-round practice,[4] as well as an outdoor arena that also serves as a paddock. Just behind the indoor arena are three other paddocks, also used for the horses to roam when they're not in their stalls.

Fire in 2018

On 21 May 2018, right before 3 am ET, Sunnybrook Stables caught on fire and became engulfed in flames, killing 16 of the 29 horses in the stable.[5][6] A barn near Sunnybrook Stables also caught on fire.[6] The cause of the fire is unknown, although the Ontario Fire Marshal suspected that the fire was caused by fireworks reported in the area of Sunnybrook Stables both on the night of 20 May and the early morning of 21 May.[7]

Cricket

Sunnybrook hosted a first-class cricket fixture in 2004.[8] The Canada national cricket team used the ground for their ICC Intercontinental Cup match against Bermuda, which ended in a draw with Canada requiring only one further wicket to win.[9]

The ground also hosted six matches during the 2001 ICC Trophy.[10]

References

  1. ^ "Sunnybrook Stables - Riding Lessons Toronto, Riding Camps, Horseback Riding Lessons, Horses Toronto, Riding Lessons Ontario". Archived from the original on 3 November 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2012.
  2. ^ Filey, Mike (3 May 2014). "Toronto has long been a city within a park". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 May 2014. Retrieved 5 May 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ a b "16 horses killed in Sunnybrook Stables fire". Toronto Star. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  5. ^ "Coach 'beyond devastated' after fire at Toronto stable kills 16 horses". Global News. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  6. ^ a b "16 horses dead, 13 others rescued after barn fire at Toronto's Sunnybrook Stables". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  7. ^ "Fireworks may have caused deadly barn fire at Sunnybrook Stables". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 22 May 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Sunnybrook Park". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  9. ^ "Canada v Bermuda in 2004". CricketArchive. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
  10. ^ "ICC Trophy Matches played on Sunnybrook Park, Toronto". CricketArchive. Retrieved 3 August 2009.
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