While Mississauga is known for its urban sprawl, the city still has plenty of spots for nature lovers to enjoy.
Development is likely going to change the face of the city in the coming years but hopefully, the green spaces will remain intact. As Mayor Bonnie Crombie said recently, the city has run out of land for single-family detached homes and must build high rises to keep up with the province’s More Homes Built Faster act.
For now, those who love nature and are looking for a place to live in Mississauga may want to consider a new study.
The study from Canadian digital real estate platform Wahi ranks its choices for best places to live in the GTA depending on what your priorities are. For those who crave more nature in an urban setting, Wahi chose three Peel neighbourhoods — all in Mississauga.
These communities received a high ranking based on several attributes: the amount of nearby park space; how quiet the neighbourhood is; and how easy it is to get around by foot or bike, Wahi notes.
Here are Wahi’s three best spots for nature lovers in Mississauga:
Applewood makes the cut for its parks, including Westacres Park in the community’s heart. The neighbourhood has good walkability with access to shops and golf courses not far away.
Etobicoke Creek walking paths are also nearby.
This neighbourhood was named for the apple orchards, which once predominated before a development boom in the 1950s. The area still has plenty of large trees.
And homes aren’t cheap — they are selling for around $1.2 million and going relatively quickly, according to Wahi. The average number of days on the market is nine.
With busy traffic and aircraft noise from Pearson International Airport, Malton doesn’t immediately come to mind as a spot for nature lovers. But Wahi has ranked Malton number two.
Wahi notes Malton’s proximity to Indian Line Campground and the Humber Arboretum. Malton also has its own two-kilometre greenway, a trail for walking, horseback riding or snowshoeing.
The upside of Malton is the home prices — the median selling price $785,000, according to Wahi.
As the name implies, Lakeview boasts beautiful views of Lake Ontario. And this area will soon boast the Jim Tovey Lakeview Conservation Area, expected to be complete in 2025.
For now, it has walking trails along Etobicoke Creek, the lakeside Marie Curtis Park and Lakefront Promenade Park.
Homes here come in at a median price of $950,000.
For the complete study, visit Wahi’s Where to Live 2023 website.
Obviously, this isn’t the last say on the best neighbourhoods for nature in Mississauga.
Glaringly missing from this list is Clarkson, home to Rattray Marsh Conservation Area and Erindale with The Riverwood Conservancy and Erindale Park.
