Nearest Address: 93 Tilden Crescent, Etobicoke ON, M9P 1W9
Meets: Thursday 9:30-11:30 AM; Saturday 9:30-11:30 AM
Transit: Runnymede Station. 79 Scarlett Rd. N to Scarlett Rd. at Tilden Cresc. 9 minute walk
The land that we steward has undergone a series of dramatic transformations. For thousands of years the valley was a portage route of the Anishnabeg, Haudenosaunee and Wendat peoples. With the arrival of European settlers, the land underwent a rapid process of deforestation and development. Suburban housing tracts and roadways covered most of the current parkland. Hurricane Hazel tore through the valley in 1954, washing away houses along Raymore Drive and the bridge connecting Lawrence and Weston. The hurricane’s devastation led to the creation of the Toronto Regional Conservation Authority and Raymore Park. A pedestrian bridge stands on the site of the former bridge, linking the park to Weston Lion’s Park and Cruickshank Park.
Traces of the past linger in the stands of willows and maples on the river bank with tall meadow rue and starry false Solomon’s seal, bloodroot and zigzag goldenrod beneath.
Over 300 trees and shrubs were planted by the City and 100 volunteers in 2023 — including silver maples, Eastern red cedars, Eastern white cedars, Poplar balsams, swamp white oaks, black willows, silky dogwoods, red osier dogwoods, ninebark, swamp rose, purple-flowering raspberry, willows, nannyberries and elderberries. Another planting takes place June 2025. Our work focuses on tending the new shrubs and trees; adding diversity to the understory woodland and sunny savannah through native plants and seeds; and removing garlic mustard and dog-strangling vine. This year we’re collaborating with urbanvessel, a local arts organization, exploring the fibre potential of DSV in a project called “twisting, twining”. Be part of stewardship and harvesting this summer as we lead up to creative workshops and performances in July.
Join the Raymore Park Stewardship Team
Site Document Archive
Note: Site Assessments and past Plant Inventory Reports are present for archival purposes. Site Assessments were prepared by volunteer Lead Stewards in the years indicated, while Plant Inventory Reports were compiled from data collected by volunteer Stewards and Lead Stewards. Site and management unit boundaries have shifted over time and may not necessarily reflect current site limits.
Plant Inventory Reports
Site Assessments
No site assessments currently exist for this site.
Scenes from the Site
