Christie Pits Park, originally Willowvale Park, is a Toronto public recreational area located at 750 Bloor St. W. at Christie Street in Ward 21, just across from the TTC Christie subway station. The park is 21.9 acres (89,000 m²), about half of which are grassed picnic areas, the rest being various sports fields. Sports facilities on the site include three baseball diamonds (one full-sized and fenced), basketball courts, bocce field, a soccer/rugby/football field, ice rink, splash pad and pool. It is home to the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team, part of the Intercounty Baseball League. The sides of the pits are highly sloped, and are used in winter for tobogganing and related activities.

The park was named after the Christie Sand Pits which were on the location until the early 1900s. The sand pits were in turn named after Christie Street, which in turn was named after William Mellis Christie , co-founder of the Christie & Brown Cookie Company, now known simply as Mr. Christie .

Garrison Creek runs under "the pits", and can be clearly seen in winter as the snow melts over the now-buried stream.

1933 Race riots

An amateur baseball tournament was held on August 16, 1933 at the site, with one team consisting primarily of Jewish players. The game ended with Nazi-sympathisers unveiling a flag depicting a swastika. The "Heil Hitler!" shouting Anglo-Canadians then engaged in a riot with the Jews and Italians at the event.

Police were unsuccessful in maintaining order, and the riot finally broke up after many hours. No charges were made by police, but some of the Nazi sympathisers were questioned. Police estimate that up to 10,000 people participated in the riots.

External links

• eye Weekly: Christie Pits riot's 60th anniversary