Grenadier Pond

Grenadier Pond borders High Park to the east, and the village of Swansea to the west. There are a variety of activities you can participate it throughout the year, depending on the season.
It’s a great spot any time of year for taking photographs. You’ll find swans building nest in the spring time, and kids skating on the ice in the winter. And speaking of, you’ll find a make-​shift hockey surf cleared away on the frozen ice in the winter and usually skating paths all around the pond. In the summer, you’ll see people fishing all over the place.
Along the Queensway, you’ll find a few benches that sit at the edge of the pond, which are great for relaxing as you take in the scenery. You can continue into High Park, and walk along the edge of the pond all the way up. During winter months, or very early mornings, you won’t find many people around, and it can really feel like you’re away hiking.
During the warmer months, the area around the pond can get quite busy, starting with the cherry blossom trees blooming in the spring. This of course brings a ton of garbage, although people tend to be more respectful than they are when they’re downtown (when it comes to throwing away their trash properly).
Grenadier Pond is one of the best reasons to live in Swansea.

This is a great spot to come for some urban fishing. I’ve been coming to Grenadier Pond at High Park to fish for a few years and although I don’t always catch something, I’ve caught some nice size bass and pike in the past.
The best spots for fishing are immediately north of the little dock in the middle of the pond and anywhere north of that along the narrow part of the pond.
The best times to go are at dawn and dusk and before August, when the weeds become unbearable.
Hey and if you don’t catch anything, there’s plenty of people and wildlife watching to do while you fish. :)

I’m a newbie to High Park. I’ve only been a couple of times. As an East Sider it’s a bit of a trek across the city. But this summer I am gonna make the effort to visit, it’s worth it!
Yes High Park is beautiful, but make sure you take some time to come down to Grenadier Pond. It’s so big! There are always geese and swans to chat with. The swans like to bully the geese, so i root for the little guys. If you like a leisurely fish, then grab your fishin’ rod and find a quiet spot on the bank.
Don’t forget your camera!

Grenadier Pond is my #1 favourite place to skate (er, attempt to skate) in the winter. Yep, it’s not officially sanctioned or encouraged by the city, but people still do it. The families who live along Ellis Park Road (the street that backs onto one side of the pond/​park) have makeshift hockey rinks set up so the ice is solid enough there if you dare to walk across the pond (which I do if it’s cold enough).
In the summer there are old Polish dudes fishing in the pond (for what, I don’t know, but they must catching something from time to time because they always return) and lots of ducks and geese swimming around. The view of the pond is especially nice if you walk down to the Queensway and look at it from the south end.

I like Ducks. They’re crazy (hence where Daffy got his name). So I felt that Grenadier Pond, the top duck hang-​out of the city, deserved a separate shout-​out from High Park.
Even in winter (yes WINTER) this pond is lovely. The ice is sort of partially frozen in spots so you have that crystal effect along the water, the tall bull rushes rim the edges like a majestic fence (oh yes, I said MAJESTIC) and the ducks! They’re still there, man! And when you walk up to the edge they’ll get a little closer, just to see if you’ve got food but it’s cool because those mean old geese are gone, so it’s just you and the ducks. The crazy daffy ducks.
I…need to get out more… around people, I mean.