High Park Facts and Figures

About Toronto's High Park

by High Park Nature

High Park contains some of the most significant natural areas in the City of Toronto including:

an outstanding concentration of provincially and regionally rare plant species
provincially rare black oak savannahs
regionally rare moist red oak and hemlock forests
locally significant examples of lakeshore marsh, natural bottomlands and dry red oak/white oak upland forests.

Indian Grass in the Black Oak Savannah. Photo: Karen Yukich

Natural Heritage in an Urban Setting

High Park is located entirely within the urban landscape and consists of a combination of ravines, tableland, and ponds. Natural cover at this site is dominated by a combination of provincially-significant oak woodland and savannah; several types of forest, and small areas of wetland. As such it is a valuable contributor to the natural heritage system and biodiversity of the region.

The site has the potential to maintain healthy populations of many flora and fauna Species of Regional and Urban Concern (minus ground- to low-nesting breeding bird species), and overall regional biodiversity.

The extent to which this potential is realized is dependent upon the strategies used to manage public use, protect the integrity of the habitats that exist, and restore degraded or invaded habitats.

Source: High Park – Terrestrial Biological Inventory, TRCA, 2019 Full Report

Quick Facts

The total area of High Park is 161 ha (hectares). This includes Grenadier Pond (14.5 ha) and several other wetlands, creeks and ponds (10.6 ha); the balance (135.9 ha) is terrestrial.
Over half (51.7%, 83.25 ha) of High Park has been designated in Toronto's Official Plan as an Environmentally Significant Area (ESA).
Almost two-thirds (64%, 102.98 ha) of High Park is designated by the Province of Ontario as an Area of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI). (The ESA and ANSI areas overlap.)
About two-thirds of High Park excluding Grenadier Pond (96.9 ha) is considered "natural areas" or "natural cover".
High Park has 71 vegetation communities. These support 549 plant species that are naturally-occurring, of which 309 are native.
152 plant species found in High Park are considered to be of conservation concern (L1 to L4 using TRCA's ranking system).
The plant community in High Park is ranked G1, i.e. critically imperilled on a global basis.

Sources

News & Sightings

Movement Strategy Fails to Put Nature and Pedestrians First High Park Movement Strategy enters final phase

Focus on Protecting Nature When work on the City-led High Park Movement Strategy began in 2021, more than three-quarters of people surveyed sent a clear message : Enhancing and conserving the park’s ecological integrity should be a high priority in…

High Park: A Balancing Act Virtual Learning Session, April 27, noon-1pm

High Park is known for many things, including its natural areas. Over one-third of the park remains in a natural state. A jewel in the city’s park system, it includes rare plants, animals, and habitats. Join City of Toronto’s Parks…

Prescribed Burn in Spring 2023 Advance Notice

Urban Forestry will undertake a prescribed burn in 5 locations in High Park this spring. Be aware that the park will be closed to vehicles on burn day. Once a date has been set, at least 24 hours notice will be…

Invasive Tree Removal Woody invasive trees are removed in winter by Urban Forestry

With the longer days of February, activity in High Park is gearing up for spring. Specifically, Urban Forestry is removing large invasive trees. This initiative is part of the City’s Urban Forestry’s Natural Area Management program for the restoration of…

Taking the Lead New Public Education Campaign Launches in High Park

The High Park On-Leash Committee (HPOC) is a volunteer group composed of High Park Nature supporters, dog owners and concerned community members. The group’s mission is to encourage compliance with the dog-walking rules in High Park through education. The HPOC…