Sunnyside Amusement Park

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2006

I found a 1983 Toronto Historical Board plaque attached to the wall at the east end of the Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion on Toronto's western shoreline east of the Humber River. I had heard of the amusement park but knew little about it until I read the plaque. Here's what it says:

Plaque coordinates: 43.637861 -79.455754

The name originates from John George Howard's Sunnyside Farm, established nearby in 1849. Begun in 1922 by the Toronto Harbour Commissioners, Sunnyside, with its thrilling rides including the roller coaster, Ferris wheel and merry-go-round, became the best known amusement park in Canada. Its many features included the famed boardwalk, nearly 4 km long, which was the focus of Toronto's annual Easter Parade. Adjacent to the Bathing Pavilion (1921), the swimming pool was opened in 1925, and in the next year the first Miss Toronto Beauty Contest was held there. The Palais Royale (1921) became a popular dance hall, and in the Sunnyside Bandstand, concerts and singsongs were held. Sunnyside Stadium, built in 1925, was the first softball park to install lights for night games. Sunnyside Amusement Park was demolished in 1956 to make way for the Gardiner Expressway.

Related web pages
Sunnyside Amusement Park
Gardiner Expressway

Related Toronto plaques
Palais Royale
Scarboro' Beach Amusement Park

More
Parks and Recreation

Here are the visitors' comments for this page.

Posted March 10, 2011
My father was the first policeman on the beat during the opening of Sunnyside. Are there any photos of the opening ceremony? His name was A R. Taylor and retired from Toronto Police after 43 years of service in 1961 or 62.

Posted October 18, 2010
My earliest memories of Sunnyside was in the thirties. It was then a big thrill for my brothers and I to be taken to Sunnyside. Second only to the "Ex". At that time the cars were vari-coloured and replicas of old open roadster models. Later came the white stream-lined models another poster mentions. We loved wandering the midway. Dad had a friend who operated a "penny pitch" concession for coconuts. When we got home, we pretended to enjoy the coconut milk and meat, but it was an acquired tasts that we hadn't acquired! Later memories revolved around the Sunnyside Tank and the open air Seabreeze Dance Pavilion. Those were the days!
F James Smith, Puslinch ON

Posted September 13, 2009
I remember Sunnyside and the white cars that you could drive around the track. My mother was working at the Honeydew across the street probably in the late 1940'2. Her name is Clarice and she died this June at 99 years of age and I am so sad. I loved her so much and she meant so much to me. I hope she was as proud of me as I am of her.

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