Your multi-use park in Roncesvalles Village/Parkdale About Us | Contact Us | Park Advisory Committee | Map & Location | Photo Gallery
HISTORY
The history of Sorauren Park, the Fieldhouse and the proposed Wabash Community Centre is a long story of neighbourhood activism and City involvement to improve the quality of life in our part of Toronto.
(If you want to add to the historical knowledge, send old photos, or correct any facts here, please contact us.)
The park site on Sorauren Avenue was a TTC transit garage until the 1980s. Decommissioned, the garage site was then slated to become a garage for municipal garbage trucks. The community had other ideas, and the battle was on to establish a much-needed neighbourhood park.
After countless volunteer hours and actions, Sorauren Avenue Park was opened in 1995 (Barbara Hall was mayor at the time). Landscaping was built up over the old concrete pad of the transit garage, a cheaper alternative to removing the concrete. Drainage over much of the park suffers because of this, with trees and grass having a hard time growing except around the margins of the park.
All during this time, the vision for the precinct extended to building a new community centre near the park. More history on the proposed Wabash Community Centre can be found here.
With an eye to building the community centre, the City bought the derelict industrial property on the north side of Wabash Avenue, adjacent to the park, in 2000 for approximately $2 million. (Chris Korwin-Kuczynski was councillor at the time.) The property contains the 40,000 sq. ft. former plant of the Canada Linseed Oil Company, built in 1915 of solid concrete, but abandoned since the 1970s (?). In 2003, a City-commissioned feasibility study showed the old building could be converted into a community centre, an idea supported by residents through several surveys and community meetings.
There is also a smaller 2,000 sq. ft. office building on the site — now converted into the Sorauren Park Fieldhouse.
The Fieldhouse building has a colourful past. For some years it was a noted after-hours speak-easy. If you can contribute to this part of the history, let us know!
In 2004, while Sylvia Watson was councillor, the City conducted a major $1-million environmental clean-up of the site, removing contaminated soil and asbestos in the old buildings.
In 2006, a community group borne out of the Roncesvalles-Macdonell Residents’ Association formed to become the Wabash Building Society, a non-profit corporation dedicated to restoring the Wabash property to community use.
As part of a “baby steps” campaign, the WBS focused on developing the Fieldhouse to quickly provide washrooms, storage space and meeting space for the park. Over the years, the children’s sports league in the park has grown from about 100 kids to more than 750 registered each season... all serviced by two temporary porta-potties.
Thanks to the efforts of the community, a fundraising campaign, grants from the Evergreen Foundation, in-kind donations, “Section 37” development fees from nearby condo and loft developments, and City support, Fieldhouse construction began in October 2007. Phase 1 of the Fieldhouse was opened in spring 2008.
Previous Ward 14 councillors, current councillor Gord Perks, Mayor David Miller, and many dedicated City staff have been instrumental in bringing the Fieldhouse to life. In 2006, the Wabash Building Society and the City accepted a prestigious Brownie Award from the Canadian Urban Institute for the work done to date by all volunteers on restoring the entire Sorauren “brownfields” site to community use. (To see all park supporters, click here.)
Sorauren Park ain’t particularly pretty. But it’s our patch of green space and blue sky. Our meeting place. It has a pleasing view of downtown, the CN Tower and St. Helens. It is well used and maybe even loved by thousands of Torontonians from all walks of life and backgrounds. It is home to busy tennis courts. Soccer and baseball teams. Cricket players. The Sorauren Park Summer Festival. Kite flyers. Joggers. Dog walkers. Skaters (when winter accommodates a natural ice rink). The Pumpkin Parade. Christmas carollers. Birthday parties. Picnics. Community events. The Holly Jones memorial garden. The RMRA presidents’ tree. The new Fieldhouse. The first of many future generations of kids to grow up in the park is now entering adulthood.
And there’s still work to be done! 40 Wabash Avenue, the old linseed plant, looms over the park like a promise waiting to be fulfilled. There’s talk of an artificial outdoor rink. The WBS and other groups remain committed to the original mission, and they invite your ideas and participation.
See you at the park.
This website is maintained by volunteers of the Wabash Building Society.
Sorauren Park is part of the City of Toronto's Parks, Forestry and Recreation department, and is operated in conjunction with several community groups, including the Wabash Building Society, Sorauren Park (Sports) Association, K9 Committee, Sorauren Park Festival Committee, and Sorauren Park Community Advisory Committee.
