Riverdale Farm

A view of Riverdale Farm

Riverdale Farm is a 3-hectare (7.4-acre) municipally operated farm in the heart of Cabbagetown, an urban neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[1] It is maintained by Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division.

Between 1888 and 1974, this was the site of the Riverdale Zoo. In 1974 the zoo relocated to a much larger facility in Scarborough and became the Toronto Zoo. In 1978, Riverdale Farm opened on the west bank of the Don River adjacent to Riverdale Park.[2][3] The main barn was first constructed in 1858 in Markham and moved to the present site and rebuilt in 1977.[1] The farm is open to the public all year-round. It specializes in pioneer breeds of farm animals that are hard to find on commercial farms.[4] Animals at the farm include poultry, waterfowl, goats, sheep, pigs, cows, donkeys, and horses.

Threats of closure

In 2011 a consultant report recommended the closure of the farm along with the High Park Zoo as a means to cut cost for the city.[5] In 2013, the W. Garfield Weston Foundation made a CAD $25000 donation to provide funds to keep the farm operating in the short term.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Bell, Bruce; Penn, Elan (2006-01-28). Toronto: A Pictorial Celebration. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. p. 116. ISBN 978-1-4027-2389-6. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
  2. ↑ Penina Coopersmith, Vincenzo Pietropaolo (1998-01-01). Cabbagetown: the story of a Victorian neighbourhood. James Lorimer & Company. p. 77. ISBN 978-1-55028-579-6. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
  3. ↑ Time Out Toronto. Time Out Guides. 2005-05-31. p. 81. ISBN 978-1-904978-32-9.
  4. ↑ Penina Coopersmith, Vincenzo Pietropaolo (2003-04-01). Toronto. Formac Publishing Company. p. 100. ISBN 978-0-88780-584-4. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
  5. ↑ http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2011/07/14/riverdale_farm_park_zoos_move_to_chopping_block.html
  6. ↑ http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/story/2013/02/18/toronto-riverdale-farm-donation.html?cmp=rss

External links

Coordinates: 43°40′02″N 79°21′41″W / 43.667111°N 79.361294°W