Some neighbourhoods are hidden in plain sight. Moore Park, Toronto is one of them. Thousands of people drive along St. Clair Avenue East every day without realising they are crossing into one of the city’s quietest, leafiest pockets, held snugly between two ravines like a well-kept secret. For the people who live there, that is rather the point. With the last of the autumn leaves coming down and the ravine trails at their most beautiful, it felt like the right moment for a proper Moore Park spotlight.
Moore Park sits on both sides of St. Clair Avenue East, east of Yonge Street. Nature drew its borders for it: the Vale of Avoca ravine runs along the west side and the Moore Park Ravine (once called Spring Valley) runs along the east. Mount Pleasant Cemetery forms the northern edge, and the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks mark the south, with Rosedale just beyond. Davisville and Leaside are close neighbours to the north and east.
Those natural boundaries are a big part of the charm. Because the ravines wrap around it, Moore Park has very little through traffic on its side streets, and many homes back onto, or sit a short stroll from, real forest.
The neighbourhood takes its name from its developer, John T. Moore. In the late 1800s, getting to this land meant crossing a ravine, which was not exactly a selling feature. So in 1891 Moore simply built the bridges himself: a steel bridge carrying St. Clair over the Vale of Avoca and a wooden bridge on Moore Avenue over Spring Valley. He also helped connect the area to the Toronto Belt Line Railway, an early commuter line. The development was marketed to well-to-do buyers from the start, and the City of Toronto annexed Moore Park on December 16, 1912.
We have met a few sellers over the years who would happily build a bridge to get the right buyer. Mr. Moore actually did it.
Moore Park is known for gracious, mature streets lined with large trees and handsome brick homes, many with decades of history behind them. You will find substantial detached family homes, along with some duplexes and multiplexes, and over time many original houses have been thoughtfully renovated or replaced with custom builds. The neighbourhood is mostly houses, so buyers looking for a condo usually widen the search to nearby Yonge Street and Davisville.
Because the area is small and hemmed in by ravines, the number of homes that come up for sale in any given season is modest. That is one reason buyers who have their hearts set on Moore Park often ask us to keep an eye out for private and coming soon listings before they hit the open market.
If you love being outdoors, Moore Park is hard to beat. The Beltline Trail, built on the old Belt Line Railway corridor, is a 9 km walking and cycling route across midtown. According to the City of Toronto, it has three sections, and the Ravine Beltline Trail runs south of Mount Pleasant Cemetery right through the Moore Park Ravine. Follow it down and you arrive at Evergreen Brick Works, the former quarry and brick factory that now hosts farmers’ markets, community events and plenty of trails.
To the north, Mount Pleasant Cemetery doubles as a peaceful place for a walk, with mature trees and beautifully kept grounds. Just remember it is a place of reflection, so save the jogging stroller races for the ravine.
Families have a good range of options close to home. Public schools serving the area include Whitney Junior Public School, Bennington Heights Elementary School and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic School. Well-known independent schools, including Branksome Hall in Rosedale, are a short drive or bus ride away. School boundaries do change, so always confirm the current catchment for a specific address with the school board before you buy.
Moore Park feels tucked away, yet it is close to everything. St. Clair and Summerhill subway stations on Line 1 are the nearest, and Davisville is not far to the north. The Don Valley Parkway is just to the east for drivers, and the shops and restaurants of Yonge and St. Clair, Summerhill and Yonge and Eglinton are all a short trip away. Yorkville is close enough for a special dinner without much planning.
They are next-door neighbours and often grouped together as Rosedale-Moore Park, but Moore Park has its own history and identity. It lies north of the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks, while Rosedale lies to the south.
Roughly, the Vale of Avoca ravine to the west, the Moore Park Ravine to the east, Mount Pleasant Cemetery to the north and the Canadian Pacific Railway tracks to the south, with St. Clair Avenue East running through the middle.
Yes. The Ravine Beltline Trail runs through the Moore Park Ravine and leads down toward Evergreen Brick Works. It is a lovely walk, especially in the fall.
Our family has lived and worked in central and North Toronto for a long time, and we know these streets well. For more on the area, visit our Rosedale and Moore Park community guide, browse homes for sale on our live search, or explore our other community guides, including our recent Bedford Park spotlight.
Already own in Moore Park? Curious what your home might be worth today? Request a personal home evaluation and Adam will get back to you within 24 hours, with no obligation. Hoping to buy? Book a buyer’s appointment and we will talk through what is available and what is coming up.
Whether you are crossing one of Mr. Moore’s bridges for the first time or the thousandth, we would love to help you find your place here.
Sources: City of Toronto, Trails and Beltline Trail information; Evergreen Brick Works; Wikipedia, “Moore Park, Toronto”.