Four Oaks Gate Park

Equipment by Landscape Structures.

Surface: sand.

I took my son here years ago, when he was barely more than a baby. In fact, I think we went several times in the same week because he liked it so much. He called it “the quiet park.”

Which is a bit strange, since it borders O’Connor Drive – a very busy street mostly used for driving through East York without stopping – right near its intersection with Don Mills, where cars are usually lined up to head down onto the DVP.

But he was right; it was very quiet. Not only in terms of street noise, which fades quickly as you walk towards the equipment and away from O’Connor, but also in terms of other people. I don’t remember seeing anyone else there on our visits, and to this day every time I drive past and sneak a quick peek it looks completely empty.

The equipment is old, but in perfectly good shape since it doesn’t seem to get much use. In fact, I went back to take some photos (I hadn’t taken any way back when my son was little) and I swear the equipment looked exactly the same as I’d left it a decade or so earlier. It was weird.

Despite being entirely unspectacular as a playground, it is a very cozy spot. With many trees, multiple entrances and exits hidden between houses, and an unusual Y-shaped layout, I kind of like this place. It's quiet and timeless and bland enough to drive past without noticing...a bit like East York itself, I guess.

As I was taking photos of the climber and the swings and the many nicely-shaded benches, I suddenly remembered that when my son was a toddler, on our last visit to Four Oaks Gate Park he had found a quarter. He was quite pleased with himself, but not at all interested in keeping it. He suggested hiding it, so that someone else might find it. He found a spot in the sand by one of the benches and hid it away.

I’ve thought about that quarter every time I’ve driven past, wondering if it’s still there. So naturally, when I went back the other day to take some pictures, I had to try and dig it back up. Even though I was certain I remembered the spot, the quarter was gone.

That made me sad for a second.

But then the idea of another kid finding it, just like my son had intended, made me happy.