The original land that makes up High Park was donated to the city in 1873 by John Howard to be used as a public park, which was increased by adjoining lands acquired later by the city. The pond is supposedly haunted by soldiers of the War of 1812, who drowned here. The past few years have seen an attempt to remove the concrete and mowed lawns of the 1960s and bring back the park s original native Ontario plants. The Rosedale Ravine trail runs in a circle. It is an oasis in a central part of the city, taking walkers through forest, Mount Pleasant Cemetery , and streets of stately homes.
Some parts are a bit hilly, so no stilettos or platforms, please.
The shape of the lake shore and islands have changed significantly over the years. In the 18th century, Elizabeth Simcoe, wife of Upper Canada s first lieutenant-governor enjoyed walking on the wooded peninsula that enclosed the harbour. In 1858, the eastern part was washed away in a storm, creating the islands. The islands then moved closer to the mainland when in the early 20th century, a land-fill project extended the shore line from Front Street to its present location. In the 1950s, the municipal government tried to oust the island residents from their island homes, eventually giving up about 20 years later.