Alexander Colle | Sports Editor
Featured Image: Though the York area might be thought of as devoid of personality and fun, it contains several recreational sport facilities perfect for getting your mind off of school and work. | Courtesy of Aaron Harris
Compared to the bustling and vibrant downtown Toronto, the York area might be thought of as a barren wasteland, devoid of any personality and fun whatsoever. Downsview is just a giant, empty park with wasted potential, and Steeles is but a boring street with way too much traffic and construction, right? However, these areas in fact contain several recreational sport facilities perfect for getting your mind off of school and work. They are inexpensive, are only a short and easy ride away, and are a perfect alternative if intramural sports just aren’t cutting it. Below is a small list of the numerous facilities around the York area waiting to be hit up by you and your friends!
Launch Golf Centre
27 Director Ct, Woodbridge, ON L4L 4S5
Don’t let the Woodbridge tag fool you. This golf range is located right off of Steeles, a 25-minute commute via bus or a 10-minute drive by car. It is a year-round facility equipped with a 300-yard fairway grid that’s calling for you to whack a ball into it. Complete with an LLBO bar, it’s the perfect place to toast to your success after a well-played golf game. Don’t forget your club!
True North Climbing
75 Carl Hall Rd Unit 14, North York, ON M3K 2B9
Get ready to conquer your fear of heights! This state-of-the-art rock climbing facility in Downsview Park Sports Centre holds an impressive 15,000 square feet of climbing terrain. You can test your climbing legs on over 100 top-rope routes and over 100 bouldering problems up to 14 feet high—don’t let go!
“Of course I’m not a skilled climber,” says third-year Theatre student Cassandra Troiano, “but I did achieve some of the routes that were considered the third-easiest level, which I thought was quite an accomplishment since I’ve never climbed being belayed or fastened before. I did enjoy it a lot. It was a nice workout. Similar to the gym but way more fun!”
Toronto School of Circus Arts
75 Carl Hall Rd Unit 8, North York, ON M3K 2B9
The place to be for all things circus, the Toronto School of Circus Arts (TSCA) offers many thrilling circus classes that can either be joined in drop-in classes every week or through 12-to-14-week subscriptions. Some of the many circus arts they offer include silks, hoops, static trapeze, flying trapeze, acrobatics, and trampoline.
“I take courses and drop-in classes training to be a flying trapeze artist at TSCA,” says fifth-year Theatre major Yasaman Nouri. “I absolutely love it. The adrenaline from flying 30 feet in the air is incredible on its own, but it’s also very fulfilling to finally master a trick you’ve been working on for months and finally be able to catch it.”
Archers Arena
1140 Sheppard Ave W Suite 3, North York, ON M3K 2A2
Want to take your aim at something new? This facility provides a one-of-a-kind experience with a bow and arrow, allowing you to shoot your friends in an indoor combat arena filled with opponents and teammates. If you’re concerned about safety, not to worry—the arrows have a soft foam tip. If you feel your archery game needs work, Archers Arena also offers one-on-one lessons at a fair price. Don’t forget to try out their Nerf Wars, a game that will take you back to childhood—but this time around, it’s complete with sniper nests, bunkers, and dozens of opponents!
The Hangar
75 Carl Hall Rd Unit 1, North York, ON M3K 2B9
Right in the heart of Downsview Park, this indoor soccer facility is known to be not only one of the biggest in Toronto, but the biggest in Canada as well. The Hangar consists of four indoor turf fields, a ball hockey arena, two multi-sport courts, and three outdoor full-size artificial turf soccer fields. The facility hosts various indoor and outdoor soccer leagues all year round, and is open to people of all skill levels.
“I do like playing at The Hangar because it’s conveniently close and the facilities are well-kept,” says third-year Law & Society student Laura Sannuto. “It’s one of the best places to join a team because they have both indoor and outdoor options. It draws in a lot of crowds to come in and watch their friends’ soccer or ball hockey games.”
