Millcroft, Burlington Neighbourhood Guide: An Outdoor Recreation Lover's Dream

Millcroft, Burlington, is a relatively new community, although it harkens back to a time when lumber and grist mills ruled the landscape. There’s even an homage to one of the historic mills (built as a replica) found at the neighbouring golf course.

The mostly quiet community nestled in green space is also close to major shopping hubs, and there are a wide variety of eateries from fast food to fine dining in the surrounding area.

The “mill” in Millcroft is a big clue to the inspiration for the name. While this community is actually fairly new compared to some others in the vicinity, the development is a throwback to the mills that once operated here, powered by the nearby pond.

In fact, there was a replica of one of the mills built to welcome people to the community. It’s more than just something nice to look at — it was also designed as a pumping station for the golf course in the area.

The homes in the Millcroft neighbourhood were constructed over a period of two decades, beginning in the 1980s. While they’re relatively “new,” they incorporate some features of older houses (such as ornate gables) from when the area was a milling centre.

The types of houses in the community include detached homes on large lots, as well as upscale townhouses. Bungalows are also scattered throughout. Many of the dwellings in this neighbourhood offer a view of the golf course, a prominent feature.

There are a couple of artistic hubs in the Millcroft, Burlington, neighbourhood. One of them is Art for Life 4 Kids on William O’Connell Boulevard, an art school for young people (as well as those preparing to study art professionally) run by a classically trained watercolour painter/animator.

There are a handful of places to view art in the vicinity, including the Burlington Artist Gallery on Commerce Court operated by artist/teacher Joan Ng. Millcroft is also about 15 minutes from the Art Gallery of Burlington, where cultural events are often hosted.

Probably the most prominent retail hub in the area is the Millcroft Shopping Centre, featuring close to 50 stores including a large grocery store (Metro) and a major pharmacy.

Within a relatively small radius are other major stores ranging from Walmart to Payless, a shoe store. If you’re willing to travel about 15 minutes, you’ll be in downtown Burlington, which offers many shopping and wellness locations.

There are some opportunities for a quick bite or fine dining in the Millcroft community. For example, the nearby Millcroft Golf Club on Country Club Drive offers a dining room and banquet hall for private events.

Other eateries in the area include Industria Pizzeria + Bar, which is open late some nights to accommodate night owls. Couples and families will find other established restaurants close by such as Turtle Jack’s and Milestones.

There’s no shortage of green space to enjoy in the Millcroft neighbourhood. Millcroft Park is a favourite of people in the area, complete with a playground and splash pad. There are also seasonal washrooms on site.

While this large public park has a wide range of amenities, there are smaller parks nearby. Pathfinder Park on Pathfinder Drive also has a playground, as does Brada Woods Park on Brada Crescent less than 10 minutes away.

If you love a round of golf, then you’re in luck. Millcroft is home to the Millcroft Golf Club, an 18-hole membership course for all skill levels. It’s also a scenic area that’s a treat for the eyes.

Meanwhile, you’ll find several recreational facilities in the neighbouring parks. Millcroft Park offers two baseball diamonds as well as tennis courts. Pathfinder Park has a multi-use sports field. Meanwhile, Tansley Woods Community Centre on Itabashi Way offers several drop-in recreational programs.

While Millcroft, Burlington, is a quiet community with lots of open space, it’s not hard to travel into the big city. Those driving to Toronto can hop on nearby Highway 403 and get downtown in about 55 minutes.

However, there are also transit options. Take a bus to the nearby Appleby GO train station, then jump on the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line — for a total of about 1.5 hours of travelling.

If you love spending time outdoors, then Millcroft, Burlington, is hard to beat. You can spend a leisurely afternoon swinging a nine iron, or you can hit the swings in one of the larger parks in the vicinity.

In winter, when some outdoor facilities are limited, you can drop by the nearby recreational centre that serves the community. Couples can also spend some quality time indoors at a fine restaurant, sipping a fancy cocktail.