James Gardens was purchased by Metro Toronto for $150,000 in 1955. It was the estate of Mr. and Mrs. Fred T. James. In 1908 Mr. James purchased the property from his wife's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Rumney, as well as the adjoining land from the Home Smith Company. This purchase totalled 21 acres (85,000 m2) of hills, valleys, virgin forest and bush meadow land on the west side of the Humber River in Etobicoke, Ontario.
The James home is situated on the top west corner of the estate at Edgehill Road. It is a two story, red gabled stone house. The stones were taken from the Humber River, just below the house. The building is now occupied by the Toronto Hunters and Anglers Association and the Etobicoke Historical Society. The horse stables were located below the house where the northwest stairs are now. Part of the original wall can still be seen. Various horseshoes, nails and coins have been found in the flower beds.
Metro Toronto Parks Department has taken over the James Estate since 1955. It is open to the public and consists of eight acres under Bent grass, with over twenty flower beds, specimen plantings, various rock gardens, nature trails, three large and four small ponds, a carp pool and a lawn bowling court. For many years until 1975, James Gardens was supervised by Mr. Joseph Herschberg, who moved on to the position of Foreman at Edwards Gardens. He replaced Dick Maier who went over to supervise the activities at James Gardens in the late 70's and early 80's. Each year thousands of flowers and over 75,000 tulips are planted in the beds, whose designs and materials are changed each year in the rock gardens and under the well pruned trees and shrubs. Each year there are tens of thousands of visitors and hundreds of weddings and receptions held on the grounds of James Gardens. The CBC shot scenes here each summer for the program "This is the Law", with Paul Soles.