Under The Spotlight – Lytton Park

Lytton Park is one of Toronto’s most exclusive neighbourhoods. It is home to doctors, lawyers, stockbrokers and corporate executives who value Lytton Park’s quiet charm, and its convenient access to transportation corridors leading in and out of the city.

Lytton Park’s other assets include beautiful homes on large lots, outstanding recreational facilities, and a close proximity to excellent public and private schools.

History:

Lytton Park owes its development to the Metropolitan Street Railway, whose single horse car line began service to this area in 1886. Prior to the advent of the railway, Lytton Park was a rural outpost with limited access to the City of Toronto.

The Metropolitan Company recognized the impact on land values that their railway service would bring to this district. Thus in 1888, the Railway purchased the two hundred acre Beatty farm, near their station at Yonge and Glengrove.

In 1888, the former Beatty farm became the “Glen Grove Park’ subdivision and the residential development of Lytton Park was underway.

Lytton Park’s major period of growth began in 1912, when it became part of the City of Toronto. It was during the next fifteen years that most of Lytton Park’s houses, schools, churches and parks were built.

Houses:

Lytton Park’s Tudor and Georgian style houses were built primarily between 1890 and 1930. All of the houses are detached, and are situated on large lots with lush gardens.

The interior of a typical Lytton Park house includes traditional accents such as hardwood floors, leaded glass windows, and a wood burning fireplace.

Schools:

John Ross Robertson PS – Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6
Ledbury Park E & MS – Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8
Allenby Jr. PS – French Immersion – Junior Kindergarten to Grade 6

Glenview Sr. PS – Grade 7 to Grade 8

Lawrence Park CI – Grade 9 to Grade 12
North Toronto CI – Grade 9 to Grade 12

To find out which schools are associated with your prospective new home, please click here to access the TDSB Street Guide and enter the street name only.

Shopping:

Lytton Park is well served by a myriad of upscale shopping districts located along Yonge Street, Avenue Road and Eglinton Avenue West. You may require a car or public transit to reach these shopping areas depending on where you are located within the neighbourhood.

Recreation:

Lytton Park, from which this neighbourhood takes its name, is nestled in a deep valley, hidden by trees, from the roaring traffic of Avenue Road above. This serene park includes three public tennis courts, and is also home to the North Toronto Lawn Bowling Club. Across from Lytton Park is the Herbert Begg Memorial Garden. This picturesque strolling garden was donated to the City by Herbert Begg’s daughters as a memorial to their father.

Otter Creek Park, on Cheritan Avenue between Chatsworth Drive and Rosewell Avenue, contains four tennis courts that are retrofitted for use as an artificial ice rink in the wintertime. This park also provides access to the Chatsworth Ravine. A Nature Trail passes through the Chatsworth Ravine on its way through Lawrence Park, the Blythwood Ravine and finally to Sherwood Park.

Transportation:

Both the Eglinton and the Lawrence subway stations, located on Yonge Street, are within walking distance of many Lytton Park houses. Yonge street and Avenue Road both have bus routes that connect to the Yonge subway line.

Motorists can be downtown in fifteen minutes. For commuters heading out of the city by car, the Yonge Street and Avenue Road on-ramps to Highway 401 are approximately five minutes from LyttonPark.

Please Note: The neighbourhood profile text and sketch were originally published in “Your Guide to Toronto Neighbourhoods”, © Maple Tree Publishing Inc., and have been reproduced under license.