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Allan Gardens
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
9 reviews for Allan Gardens
9 reviews in English
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Review from Lindsey S.
Toronto, ON
12/30/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I have already reviewed the dog park - Now I'll touch on the park.
It's amazing that we have so much green space in this city, and to have it so close to my house, I am a very lucky person.
About 5 years ago the city of Toronto cleaned this place up. There are still your junkies and booze hounds, but they are only now seen more at night. There is also a much bigger police presence in the park and that's never a bad thing.
On a nice summer morning you will be treated to saxophone playing, people doing tai chi and the sound of dogs barking. The actual gardens are stunning in the height of the spring and summer, and the area is a nice place to take a book, soak in the rays or just people watch.
As for the winter....unless you're a crazy dog owner like I am...there is not much here for you. -
Review from Peter L.
10/25/2011 1 photo
In order to get to the Allan Gardens Conservatory...you need to get through the Allan Gardens "Park" 1st....not much here except cute black squarrels and the NOT SO CUTE rows of foal mouthed, alcohol drinking, urine soaked bums.
There's also a dog park here which is "ew" for this CAT LOVER! :P
Have a fast gait and get to the Conservatory promptly. -
Review from vivian v.
Aurora, ON
Updated - 7/20/2009 1 photo
How many times am I allowed to write an update? Because here I go again.
Now that I've been attending this park for a few months, I've come to love & adore it. Even with all the crazy and the negligent owners that only come to socialize, the good by far outweighs the bad. I've already met some of the greatest people, where at most dog parks, you'll never learn a person's name. I've made so many close friends who have done so much for me in the little amount of time I've known them. Plus, the dogs are splendid little buggers (for the most part) and watching my dog getting attacked (playfully, of course) four on one is pretty much the best part of my morning routine.Listed in: The Good, The Bad & The…, Welcome To The Village
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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5/7/2009
I still like this park. But now that I have more experience (ya i realize it's been two days): don't… Read more »
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Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
12/8/2008 2 photos
The ongoing joke about Allan Gardens was how many needles you had to pull out of your shoes after crossing the park. How melodramatic.
Sure, it's not located in the best part of the city, but it's nowhere near as frightening as some urban parks in the States. The only thing that has put me mildly off the comfort car has been a screaming homeless man in the late evening. Characters do wander about here.
I never feel inclined to walk through this park, though, not out of fear... I just don't need to. Aside from the actual conservatory, it's a bit featureless. Also, it's rare for the average person to find themselves walking around in this area because there's no real browsing value on Jarvis and Gerrard, unless Hooker Harvey's is your hot spot.
Ultimately, though, it's really not the park; it's the surrounding nothingness that's a problem.Listed in: Free and cheap hangouts in…
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Review from Dan P.
Toronto, ON
11/15/2009
If it wasn't for this park, I would go insane with a hyper dog... The leash free dog area is a godsend for my life. That said, Allan Gardens does have it's flaws. The most annoying one to me, is that in the dog park, sooo many people don't pick up after their dogs. Also, the leash free area is pretty darn smelly.
That said, you'll see me there reasonably frequently with a white blur known as a whippet. -
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
9/5/2008 1 photo
I really want to like Allan Gardens, I love nature in the city and green space where there is so much concrete, but Allan Gardens has many problems. I'm a big guy and I rarely feel threatened when I wander about, but I won't go to Allan Gardens at night. At night there is a sinister feel that keeps me away every time. The conservatory is quite nice and I would recommend going during Christmas time because they do Christmas theme. I don't have a dog, but if I did I would take them to the Allan Gardens off leash section, the dogs all seem to love it and it's a place where they can socialize. I would recommend this park to people with dogs during the day. I wouldn't recommend it for moonlit strolls with your sweet heart because I have the feeling you might get stabbed.
Like the review? Check out the link to my blog on my profile. -
Review from Jimi S.
ON
11/18/2008
Allan Gardens, if revamped would be a spectacular and quite classy park. it seems to me that it must have been at its inception. it got quite the promenade feel - people can enter from 4 major city blocks and convene at the centre essentially. on its western most side, is the plant conservatory which is so so lovely. you can see the most lovely flowers and plants that youve either never seen before or have because they sell baby versions in plant stores around you but you always and buy them and kill them before they say their first words. Gargantuan aloes that will tear you in half like the jaws of a croc should you come too close. little waterfalls and overhanging trees make you feel like you are carousing in a jungle.
in the park itself there are a lot of benches and long paved walkways, but they are often hosted by drunk people. now if you have a dog they have a huge dog run that has recently been overhauled with a few enormous bright blue and bright green dog statues marking their turf. im going to try and go there and catch a little pisher of a dog facing off against one. dogs are such dummies.
anyhow, on a really nice day its a great place to sit and people watch or read or just go to check out the garden. -
Review from Melissa J.
Toronto, ON
12/9/2008
I remember being a young teenager, exploring the wonderful city of Toronto, trying to find my way to a friend's house east on College...
And I found myself in Allan Gardens. Fearing for my life. I'm from Scarborough, people. And I'm afraid of Allan Gardens. Because while Scarborough may have a bit of gang presence, and some rowdy teenagers with knives, at least it doesn't have meth heads and scary coked out hookers. As well as the needles (I've seen them!).
I'd like to say it's not as bad during the day because they have a leashes off section and lots of cute dogs, but I remember having to interview dog owners in this park for school and a crazy homeless man ruined my shot by running in front of the camera and then trying to steal it.
Avoid at all costs. -
Review from Alejandro A.
Toronto, ON
12/19/2008
Allan Gardens has a bit of a bad rep because it's in a sketchy part of town. And yes, the park is known to have its fair share of sketchy people from time to time, but it's also a very nice park with lots of nice park qualities.
There's a large area that is sectioned off as a leash free zone for dogs. Just look for the giant bright blue statues of dogs. There are fences so that your dogs don't run away or into the street. In the summer months, this place gets plenty of use.
There's also a green house area with lots of pretty plants and greenery. It's free to go in, but it's not always open. I've seen amateur photographers go in and use the space as a backdrop for some quick shoots.
