We need ravines
With the City’s population expected to grow by another million people over the next 25 years, we will need them even more in the coming years. The buildings already in the development pipeline for the Yonge Street corridor and the area north of Mt. Pleasant Cemetery — buildings under construction, approved, or submitted as applications — will add at least 100,000 more residents to the area immediately adjacent to the Midtown ravines. And more developments will come.
The Midtown Ravine Group is a confederation of ten residents’ associations seeking to revitalize the ravines in Toronto’s midtown core. Our ravines — potentially and historically a recreational resource and an ecological treasure — are a pale shadow of the destination parks that existed in the 19th century, degraded by the inexorable effects of erosion coupled with lack of maintenance. Our mission is to bring back and realize that potential.
Ravine News
Avoca open house sees strong community engagement
October 19, 2026
Lots of community members welcomed the opportunity to attend an open house on October 7, 2026, the first of three formal consultation exercises planned for the Avoca Project. The City’s project team introduced the community to the overall scope of the project, and many of the issues that will be addressed as plans for the ravine are developed.
July 2026 MRG Community Survey Summary Results
September 18, 2026
Thanks to everyone who completed our July community survey on what you value about Vale of Avoca. The overall message we took from the survey results was that addressing erosion and upgrading the trail network should be done in ways that safeguard the ravine’s unique natural setting and biodiversity.
August 17, 2026
August downpour highlights Yellow Creek issues
July 20, 2026
Vale of Avoca July 2026 update
July 18, 2026
Ravine plant studies underway in the Vale
July 16, 2026
Lower Don trail improvements
July 16, 2026
Vale of Avoca: what we’re hearing from you
Events and walks
Drop-in at the Avoca Project open house
The City’s community engagement exercise relating to Vale of Avoca improvements is now underway. Be sure to take this valuable opportunity to learn and to share your views.
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Carstowe Road Restoration Site Tour
Sunday, October 4, 2026, 10 to 11:30 a.m. or 2 to 3:30 p.m.
Meet: Ramp at MacLennan foot bridge
This is a guided walking tour of Carstowe Road Park, a natural area in the south of Moor Park that is being restored by Toronto Nature Stewards.
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Vale of Avoca walk – 12 gateways to Avoca
Sunday, September 27, 2026, 2 to 4 p.m. Distance: 3.75 km (approx.)
Meet: St. Clair Subway, Alvin Ave. exit
Not many people know that there are twelve trail routes in and out of midtown Toronto’s Vale of Avoca ravine.
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Secrets of Rosehill Reservoir
Wednesday, September 23, 2026, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Deer Park Branch, Toronto Public Library, 40 St. Clair Avenue East, Toronto (St. Clair Subway Station)
Join photojournalist Ian Darragh for an illustrated talk about this much-loved park.
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