Discovery Bay, Ajax Neighbourhood Guide: Bask in the Beauty of Nature

The Discovery Bay neighbourhood of Ajax, Ontario is one of the most picturesque areas in the Durham region as it is bordered by two natural and beautiful waterways, Duffin’s Creek and Lake Ontario. Also known as the Ajax Waterfront district, Discovery Bay is an L-shaped neighbourhood that follows Finley Avenue and Dreyer Drive from Bayly Street West to Pickering Beach Road. 

Duffin’s Creek, Discovery Bay’s western border, has a long history of being one of the favourite spots for fishing and hunting for First Nations people, largely due to leagues of Atlantic salmon that would migrate upstream to spawn in the Rouge River. Europeans later referred to it as the “riviere au saumon” or Salmon River. In the 1800s and 1900s, British and American families operated agricultural and livestock farms in what is now Discovery Bay, and it was developed as one of Ajax’s first neighbourhoods in the 1970s and 1980s.

Most of the homes in the Discovery Bay neighbourhood were built in the initial development in the 1970s and 1980s and are primarily detached sub-divisional brick or frame exterior designs. They often feature single or double car garages in front of the house. In more recent years, some townhouses and condos have been sprinkled in, but the area is still dominated by the early development houses. 

If you’re looking for an area with the presence of arts and culture, Discovery Bay is conveniently located close to some fun outings no matter your tastes. At the corner of Bayly and Church Street sits both the Pickering Casino Resort and Annandale Golf. A little further up Church Street, you can visit the St. Francis Centre for Community, Arts, and Culture, a multipurpose facility that has a fully outfitted stage, retractable theatre seating, reception space, glass atrium, bar, and catering kitchen. 

For your shopping needs, the Discovery Bay Centre is located along Westney Road South. It is home to Giant Tiger, take out and dine-in restaurants, bars, car repair shops, home maintenance services, and childcare services. Luckily, anything else you will need can likely be found in Ajax’s downtown area nearby, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, restaurants, health services, and more. 

Literally minutes away from the neighbourhood is the bordering Downtown Ajax area that is host to bars and restaurants of all sorts. These include franchises such as The Great Canadian Bagel, Wendy’s, Booster Juice, and many more. There are also local spots like Goldies Cafe + Eatery, Magwyers Pub, Wow! Wing House, and others for you to check out. No matter what you’re craving, the nearby Downtown Ajax will be ready to serve you. 

Discovery Bay has numerous parks right along the waterfront that provide great spaces for anyone to enjoy nature and take part in large seasonal events. One of the most notable parks is Rotary Park, located where Duffin’s Creek and Lake Ontario meet, just off of Lake Driveway West. Its facilities include a splash pad, playground, small boat launching point, washrooms, snack bar, and pavilion. It also encompasses other areas of the waterfront including The Maples, The Oaks, The Pinery, and Lion’s Point. 

Lion’s Point sits 20 meters above the shore, the highest elevation on the waterfront, offering beautiful, picturesque views all the way to Toronto’s distant shore. It was originally named after the Sparks family, who used to hang a lantern at the top of the point to warn passing ships of the land.

As of August 2021, a new Rotary Park elevated walkway was opened as a way to preserve the waterfront whilst providing a safe and sustainable trail for people to enjoy. The trail sits over the mouth of Duffin’s Creek, elevated above regional flood levels, and is said to be able to withstand a 100-year storm. It connects to the William A. Parish Waterfront Trail, which was given that name in 2019 to honour Parish, a man who sat on Ajax’s first town council and later became its mayor.

Further down the waterfront at the end of Harwood Avenue South is Veterans’ Point Gardens, home to several memorials and signs honouring Ajax’s cultural heritage and history. One such memorial is named The Boat, built in such a way that the street lights resemble masts and the informational area looks like the bow of a ship in honour of Ajax’s naval history. 

As of August 2021, a new Rotary Park elevated walkway was opened as a way to preserve the waterfront whilst providing a safe and sustainable trail for people to enjoy. The trail sits over the mouth of Duffin’s Creek, elevated above regional flood levels, and is said to be able to withstand a 100-year storm. It connects to the William A. Parish Waterfront Trail, which was given that name in 2019 to honour Parish, a man who sat on Ajax’s first town council and later became its mayor.

Further down the waterfront at the end of Harwood Avenue South is Veterans’ Point Gardens, home to several memorials and signs honouring Ajax’s cultural heritage and history. One such memorial is named The Boat, built in such a way that the street lights resemble masts and the informational area looks like the bow of a ship in honour of Ajax’s naval history. 

There are two regional bus lines that run through and around Discovery Bay, one being the 224 that cuts through the neighbourhood and down Pickering Beach Road, and the other is the 291 that runs down Harwood Avenue South. Both will quickly take you to the Ajax bus and GO station.

With access to a car, getting around will be a charm. In less than five minutes, you’ll be driving down the 401 to wherever you need to go with ease. To get into the heart of Downtown Toronto, it should take less than 40 minutes in good traffic. The northern border of Bayly Street West is also local Highway 22 and can facilitate fast and simple travel from Pickering to Whitby.

For any trip closer to home, there are plenty of walking and biking trails in the Discovery Bay neighbourhood. These include the 3.7 km Discovery Bay Route, 6 km Clover Ridge Route, 3.8 km Duffin’s Bay Route, 3.7 km Rotary Park Route, and the 8.9 km Waterfront Trail that is also maintained in the winter. Ajax as a whole is a very bike-friendly community, and Discovery Bay is one of the most, if not the most, accommodating neighbourhoods in the area for cyclists.

The beauty of Discovery Bay, Ontario and its waterfront is by far the most noteworthy and unique part of the neighbourhood, and it deserves acclaim for being a longstanding publicly held and enjoyable piece of nature. With everyday conveniences and entertainment close by, there will always be an unforgettable adventure waiting just around the corner.