THE GREEN LINE GUIDE TO...
FINDING THIRD SPACES IN TORONTO
PlazaPOPs sets up space for community members to hang out in plazas across Scarborough.
: Kat Rizza.
SAHAANA RANGANATHAN
Toronto Metropolitan University Master of Journalism graduate with a passion for community-based storytelling. Currently living in the Annex. Always down to get matcha or milk tea.
AMARTYA SMARAN
Aspiring Indian filmmaker, editor and actor currently studying lifestyle media at Centennial College. A city boy from Hyderabad, India, who loves comedy, storytelling, jazz music and biryani. Now sharing a house in Scarborough with three other city boys, he often uses a step ladder to reach cupboards.
May 12, 2025
How do you begin to develop a sense of community?
Last November, The Green Line hosted Story Circles and a community dinner at St. Stephen-in-the-Fields church to talk about this very topic. In our chats, event attendees kept going back to one crucial question: Where do we hang out to make friends?
Well, third spaces are a great place to start. The concept of third spaces originates from urban sociologist Ray Oldenburg. According to him, third places are a neutral ground for the community to gather outside home or work.
But, how do we find them?
We went to three underrated neighbourhoods from east to west to find some cool spots to hang out and make friends.
Follow along our hunt for the best third spaces in the video, below.
Exploring Downsview
If you’re looking for a large green space in North York, then Downsview is the neighbourhood to check out.
Downsview Park offers more than just a space to walk/cycle/picnic.
It also has programming like Nature Connection, a 90 minutes program every second and fourth Sunday of the month from 2:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
"Usually, every Sunday that I'm here, by the end of the day, I'll see people communicating and chatting with each other, who at the start of the day had never met each other," says Luke Brennan, a Nature Connection guide.
Another option is the Downsview Park Greenhouse, which aims to create a community space for volunteers to connect and contribute to growing native plants. To be part of this program you need to attend the training sessions and commit to volunteering a minimum of six shifts between March and June.
Now, if you’re looking for a cool and casual spot to visit, there’s also Downsview Park Merchant Market, which is open every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
If you're interested in getting more active, check out the Edithvale Community Centre for pilates, yoga or running programs.
Exploring downtown
The area is filled with cafes, parks and libraries — so many that you could get lost or overwhelmed by just searching for the perfect spot.
So, if you’re looking for a unique opportunity, check out Met Radio.
Met Radio is a community multi-media hub associated with Toronto Metropolitan University. It's student-run but open to anyone. You can take part in the radio's programming, production, outreach, writing, live broadcasting and graphic design.
"It's a real exciting, lively, motivating place to be," says Sean Warkentine, the station manager.
Met Radio also hosts events like block parties. "We have a partnership with a local bar called the Winona on Bloor. The last Sunday of every month, we've been going there to do a record-spinning party so, anybody can come and bring their records. [It's] just a fun way to connect with the community, play some music and hopefully, get our name out there."
Another option for the artsy types is the Regent Park Sewing Studio, a women-led social enterprise. Through the initiative, local residents learn how to sew, set up fashion shows, sell their products and exchange skills and knowledge with each other. The studio also offers free beginner and intermediate sewing classes, as well as a repair clinic.
Some other underrated spots to check out in the area are Alumane Theatre, Allan's Garden, Sumach Espresso and Moss Park Espresso.
Community members stop Building Roots' Coffee and Connections program in the Moss Park neighbourhood.
: Amartya Smaran/The Green Line.
Exploring Scarborough
Scarborough is known in Toronto for its food. But, did you know that it also has some pretty cool third spaces?
Clark Centre for the Arts is an arts centre that’s accessible to the public all year round with free admission from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Sunday.
You can visit the centre for the exhibitions. But it also offers hands-on art courses for adults, including fashion sewing, adobe illustrator and painting for absolute beginners.
Don Montgomery Community Recreation Centre also offers a variety of cultural, creative sports and senior programs. There’s a run track, basketball court, leisure skate and multi-purpose rooms.
If you want motivation to get active, look into joining Scarbroruns, a group that meets every Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Thomson Memorial Park.
Exploring your own neighbourhood
If you want to find your own ideal third space in your own neighbourhood, we put together a list of ways to get started:
- Search for volunteering opportunities.
- Search for arts programming.
- Search for sports leagues, using websites like JAM Toronto.
- Search for running/walking clubs in your neighbourhood.
- Explore local spots and groups through social media like Instagram, Reddit and TikTok.
- Check out the City of Toronto’s Parks and Community Recreation Centres Map, Drop-in Arts, Hobbies & Interests Map, Community Gardens Map and Registered Recreation Activities Map.
To make the search easier, we asked our team and community members where they hang out around the city and started compiling all the answers in our Third Spaces Map.
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