Ashbridge's Bay Park was named after Sarah Ashbridge, a Quaker widow and United Empire Loyalist from Philadelphia who settled here in 1793 and obtained a Crown land grant in 1799 for a farm. The marshes in the bay and lower Don Valley surrounding the Ashbridge's farm were very important habitat for waterfowl, including loons, wild geese, and wild swans. Her two sons, John and Jonathan, fought in the War of 1812 and were involved in the Upper Canada Rebellion of 1837. They lived at their waterfront farm until their deaths; Jonathan died in 1845 and John in 1861.
Ashbridge's Bay originally extended from Cherry Street to Woodbine Avenue although lake filling for industrial uses has claimed most of the marshlands. In 1972, the former Metropolitan Toronto and Region Conservation Authority acquired the remaining land from the Metropolitan Toronto Works Department and the Toronto Harbour Commission for a lakefill extension into Lake Ontario. A waterfront park then was developed for public recreation purposes and officially opened in 1977. Direction: Vehicles can enter Ashbridge's Bay Park from Lakeshore Boulevard East, just east of Coxwell Avenue. Toronto Public transit includes the Queen 501 streetcar, Woodbine South 92 and Coxwell 22 buses. Information from the City of Toronto website.
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