Toronto's great summer park — Christie Pits has an outdoor public pool, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, a water splash pad for kids, and a sunken natural amphitheatre used for free summer events. The outdoor pool is one of the city's best on a hot July afternoon — free for children under 13.
Neighbourhood: Annex / Seaton Village · Address: 750 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON · Hours: Mon–Sun 24 hours
Why Visit
Christie Pits is where Torontonians go to cool off for free in summer—whether for a dip in the pool, pick-up baseball after work, or weirdly good people-watching. The amphitheatre vibe makes even casual picnics feel like an event.
What Makes It Unique
Unlike most Toronto parks, Christie Pits combines a big outdoor pool, active sports fields, and a natural bowl where you can catch free movies or concerts. Few city parks let you swim, sunbathe on a hill, and watch a baseball doubleheader back-to-back. The busy, youthful mix of Annex and Koreatown regulars gives this place a more down-to-earth community feel.
Christie Pits Park in the Annex and Seaton Village neighbourhood is one of Toronto's most historically resonant and practically excellent parks — a large natural depression that houses a community centre, outdoor pool, baseball diamonds, and the famous Christie Pits skating rink in a setting that has been a gathering place for central Toronto's working-class communities since it was converted from a gravel pit in the 1920s. The park's name is inseparable from the 1933 Christie Pits riot, in which a baseball game sparked confrontation between Fascist provocateurs displaying swastika banners and the Jewish and other immigrant communities who converged to defend the neighbourhood — a significant event in Canadian Jewish history and in the story of Toronto's relationship with its immigrant communities.
The outdoor pool is one of Toronto's most beloved summer amenities — a large, well-maintained public pool that operates free of charge from late June through late August and provides cooling for the density of the surrounding Annex and Seaton Village neighbourhoods, which lack private pool access. The pool draws a genuine cross-section of the neighbourhood on summer days: young families, teenagers, seniors, and everyone in between using a public facility in exactly the way public facilities are supposed to function.
The baseball diamonds host recreational league games through spring, summer, and fall, continuing a baseball culture at Christie Pits that goes back to the 1920s. The hillside amphitheatre at the park's north end hosts outdoor movie screenings, concerts, and community events during summer months. The Christie Pits skating rink is among the best outdoor refrigerated rinks in the city — maintained to better ice quality than unrefrigerated parks can achieve during warm winters.
The neighbourhood surrounding Christie Pits — Bloor Street West's restaurant strip, the Annex's independent bookshops and cafes, Koreatown to the west on Bloor — makes the park the physical centre of one of Toronto's most vibrant street cultures.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Christie Pits outdoor pool free?
Yes — Christie Pits outdoor pool is a free City of Toronto public pool operating from late June through late August. Hours vary by day; check the City of Toronto's aquatics schedule for current-season hours and any programming that limits general swim times.
What is the historical significance of Christie Pits?
Christie Pits was the site of the 1933 Christie Pits riot, in which a baseball game sparked confrontation between Fascist provocateurs displaying swastika banners and the Jewish and immigrant communities who gathered to resist. The event is considered a significant moment in Canadian Jewish history and the history of Toronto's diverse communities.
Is there skating at Christie Pits Park?
Yes — Christie Pits has an outdoor refrigerated skating rink that operates winter months with better ice quality than unrefrigerated outdoor rinks. Check the City of Toronto's skating schedule for current-season hours and free skate availability.
How do I get to Christie Pits Park?
Christie Pits is at 750 Bloor Street West, at the Christie and Bloor intersection. Christie station on Line 2 is at the park's doorstep. The 511 Bathurst bus also runs nearby.