Get moving in Pickering’s healthy lifestyle neighbourhoods
Published March 1, 2023 at 4:25 pm
When it comes to healthy living, Pickering is the place to be, according to a first-of-its-kind interactive ranking of the best neighbourhoods in the GTA by region developed by a Toronto digital real estate company.
Wahi released its findings Tuesday in the Wahi’s Where to Live 2023 report, which stacks neighbourhood vs neighbourhood in 11 lifestyle categories.
And when it comes to active living, nature lovers and car-free lifestyles, Pickering came out on top. In fact, the city between the Rouge River and Duffins Creek swept the top three spots in the first two categories and earned the #1 and #3 positions for car-free living.
Whether you’re a fitness fanatic or just like to stay active, the top-ranked Pickering neighbourhoods of Amberlea, Rougemount and Dunbarton are the right choice for a healthy lifestyle, says Wahi.
Pedestrian and cycling friendly, these communities offer a variety of amenities that cater to physical activity and healthy living, with plenty of green space for sports and other recreational activities. And in the case of #1 Amberlea, the downtown neighbourhood has Amberlea Park for a jog or some rock-climbing and the Chestnut Hill Recreation Centre for swimming, skating, tennis, squash or racquetball.
Rouge Park in Rougemount, meanwhile is the go-to spot for jogging and basketball, with lots of nearby trails that are ideal for cyclists and hiking enthusiasts. Dunbarton residents have access to loads of recreational opportunities as well.
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For nature lovers, you can’t beat the Highbush neighbourhood, with Rouge National Urban Park right in its backyard, Highbush boasts immediate access to more than 75 square kilometers of outdoor space to explore.
Also scoring high for residents who crave green space in an urban setting is the aforementioned Amberlea community, which lies between Rouge Park and Frenchman’s Bay, and Rosebank, which boasts winding waterways and conservation lands in this secluded neighbourhood, offering peace and quiet with a beautiful backdrop.
All three neighbourhoods received a high ranking based on three qualities: the amount of nearby park space; how quiet the neighbourhood is; and how easy it is to get around by foot or bike.
For car-free neighbourhoods, only downtown Ajax (#2) interrupted Pickering’s dominance of the healthy lifestyle categories. Bay Ridges took top honours here, with scenic waterfront trails weaving around Frenchman’s Bay giving residents good reasons to leave the car at home.
Downtown Ajax was cited for its solid transit access, while Pickering’s Liverpool neighbourhood was also praised for its transit focus as new development sprouts along Kingston Road.
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