When James Lea settled on the western bank of the West Don River in 1819, it is unlikely that he ever considered that the site he selected would one day bless the future residents of his farmland with an abundance of parkland. Of course, Leasiders also have the politicians to thank for having the wisdom to preserve and protect the Don Valley. Some of the earliest prominent families of the area such as the Gundy’s also donated their estates to the city. Serena Gundy Park at the eastern end of Broadway Avenue offers a wonderful refuge year-round away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

The northern edge of Leaside borders on Sunnybrook Park that was once part of James Kilgour’s Sunnybrook Farm. Leaside has his widow, Alice, to thank for donating much of the family estate to the City of Toronto in 1930. Both Serena Gundy and Sunnybrook Park provide a tranquil entrance to the beautiful Edward's Gardens to the north and Wilket Creek to the southeast. West of Leaside the Serena Gundy Park merges with Seton Park providing residents with extensive biking, walking, and cross country skiing trails that extend to Todmorden Mills to the south of Leaside, and beyond.

With acres of natural parkland to the north, east and south, other parks, such as Howard Talbot Park and Trace Manes within Leaside provide residents with access to space for sports activities and playgrounds.

Leaside’s newest park, dubbed “The Hoof” by those who use it, is a great space for honing your skateboarding and basketball skills. All in all few neighborhoods in Toronto offer residents quite so much in the way of space to just relax and totally escape from the city while still being only minutes from downtown.   James  Lea  and the other prominent estate owners of the area would surely be pleased with the legacy they left for future generations.