redpath pond toronto

Sarcastic five-star reviews hail dirty puddle in alley as hot new Toronto attraction

If you're on the hunt for the hottest tourist attraction in midtown Toronto, then look no further, because a new destination is raking in visitors.

In a city losing major sites like the Ontario Science Centre and potentially the Revue Cinema, it's kind of fitting that a recurring puddle of dirty water in a nondescript alley is being lauded with sarcastic five-star reviews billing it as a must-see spot.

A back alley extending west from Redpath Avenue, just north of Eglinton Avenue East, is home to the so-called Redpath Pond.

The pond (which is really just a small puddle) has amassed almost a dozen reviews in the past few weeks, and holds a unanimous five-star rating. That being said, not a single review for this puddle can be interpreted as genuine, and everyone is clearly poking fun at this unplanned water feature.

One user wrote, "Extremely good pond. Quite often, cars pass through it and leave us with unquestionable quality abstract art! 5/5 would recommend visiting."

"Quality pond. Love passing by on my way to the gym. You never know what to expect with this pond as it's ever evolving in size and depth. Love the surprise it's always bringing me," wrote another.

However, not everyone has been impressed by the new attraction.

"Where are the ducks? I was promised the duck... and what the duck? There are no ducks. I travelled from Etobicoke for this duckless pond," wrote one reviewer — though they would later edit their entry to say, "Went back... there was a sole duck. All is well with the world."

The resident who started up the Google listing, David Chudak, wrote, "Excellent pond in Midtown Toronto — thanks to improper grading and drainage we now have a large pond in Midtown!"

Reviewers have painted the pond as a welcome addition, like one who described it as "Tucked perfectly inside the parking lot only to be visited by regulars. On good days, you'll find me swimming merrily in its radiating ripples."

"Excellent place for a quick swim before work if you park your car at the U-park," wrote another.

One person suggested (unseriously) that it's an ideal alternative to local splash pads, writing, "Great place for families with young children. Wear your rubber boots and the kids will love splashing about."

So, if you're looking for a place to cool off during this week's intense heat, you might want to think twice about taking online reviews at face value.

Lead photo by

David Chudak/Google


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