Creeks, Greens, and Flow: Natural Features of Kennedy Park

Kennedy Park is more than just a residential area! It’s a neighborhood quietly shaped by flowing creeks, green corridors, and natural elements that weave through its urban fabric. The map titled “Creeks, Greens, and Flow: Natural Features of Kennedy Park” offers a closer look at the ecological features that define the area and contribute to its unique character.

A map of the natural features of Kennedy Park, showcasing its waterways, green spaces, and neighborhood boundaries, created by Armin Jahromi as part of the Park & Willow Urban Studio initiative in April 2025

At the heart of this landscape is Taylor Massey Creek, a main watercourse that meanders through the community from northwest to southeast. Accompanied by smaller tributaries, this network of waterways serves critical functions—managing stormwater, providing natural cooling, and supporting local biodiversity. These creeks may not always be visible, but they are vital to the health and resilience of the neighborhood.

Pine Hills Cemetery is one of the largest green spaces in the Kennedy Park neighborhood, offering a calm and quiet place surrounded by trees and nature. Taylor Massey Creek runs through the cemetery, adding to its peaceful setting and making it feel like a small escape from the busy city. With its wide open space, tall trees, and winding paths, Pine Hills is a special spot where people can walk, reflect, or just enjoy the outdoors close to home.

Understanding and visualizing these natural systems is more than an academic exercise, it’s a call to action. As urban growth intensifies across Toronto, preserving and enhancing ecological corridors like Taylor Massey Creek becomes increasingly important. These natural assets offer not only environmental benefits but also opportunities for placemaking, education, and community building.

By recognizing the value of these overlooked spaces, Kennedy Park can continue to grow as a resilient, connected, and environmentally responsible neighborhood. This map is both a resource and an invitation, to explore, to protect, and to reimagine the role of nature in our everyday urban lives.