Liverpool, Pickering Neighbourhood Guide: Live in the Heart

Liverpool, Pickering is the largest neighbourhood in the city with an advantageous central location. Residents in the community enjoy all the amenities Pickering has to offer with ease and convenience. The area is an atypical, almost circular shape, bordered by the Canadian National Railway to the north, West Duffins Creek on the east, the rear lot lines of Fairport Road and Appleview Road on the west, and Kingston Road around the Pickering City Centre neighbourhood to the south. 

The area was formerly a hamlet known as Liverpool Market, which was incorporated into the Township of Pickering. The focal point of the community was the Liverpool Arms Inn, built in 1878 by owner and proprietor Robert Secker, and was a popular stop along the Kingston Road highway on the way into Toronto. The building still stands at Liverpool Road and Kingston, now operating as Liverpool John’s Pub & Restaurant. 

Development of the housing stock in Liverpool occurred mostly in the 1970s and 1980s, and is quite varied. The prominent styles are neo-colonial and Tudor revival, with detached and semi-detached options throughout, and entry-level townhouses mainly in the southeastern part of the neighbourhood. 

The City of Pickering is also planning infill developments along Kingston Road and notes there are a few infill opportunities west of Valley Farm Road. There is a long-term plan on Kingston Road to create a higher density, mixed-use, pedestrian and transit-oriented community with easier access to getting around the city and the GTA. 

The City of Pickering has a strong presence of the arts, shown by several groups and organizations that facilitate city- or region-wide participation. Pickering has an official youth dance company known as SynchroniCity that performs at various annual and special events. Local organizations like Durham West Arts Centre and PineRidge Arts Council host events and rally behind ensuring that the arts are accessible for the community. 

Located in the nearby Pickering City Complex is the Central Branch for the Pickering Public Library. The branch features a unique Maker Space, an artistic facility that lends residents access to a 3D printer, sound booth, green screen, DJ mixing kit, and much more. Some of these items are available for loan, and the library hosts workshops to teach people how to use the technologies. 

Pickering also hosts multiple summer concert series and grand annual events to promote community connectivity through art and celebration. The City uses Esplanade Park behind City Hall, Millennium Square by the waterfront, and Bay Ridges Kinsmen Park on Sandy Beach Road to host concerts and Canada Day festivities.

Liverpool features many shopping amenities within its borders and nearby. At Dixie Road and Finch Avenue, a plaza including an Allen’s Independent, Rexall, convenience store,  take-out and dine-in restaurants, and self-care services is available for residents’ everyday needs. A smaller plaza nearby, off Liverpool Road at Bushmill Street, called Maple Ridge Shopping Centre hosts convenience stores, self-care services, and take-out restaurants.  

Residents can find more options in Kingston, such as the Brookdale Centre at Dixie, which features Home Depot, Food Basics, Shoppers Drug Mart, Michaels, home services, health-care services, and take-out restaurants. The Pickering Town Centre is also very close to Liverpool and Kingston, a hub for the city with over 200 stores available for any other needs. 

The Liverpool John’s Pub & Restaurant is a crown jewel for the neighbourhood as one of its oldest structures with a fascinating history. Originally the Liverpool Arms Inn, it was forced to halt its legal operations during Ontario’s prohibition, but legend says the owner continued selling bootleg whiskey. After the Depression in the 1930s, the building operated as a general store and post office before later switching back to a rooming house. 

At some point, it became a family home, and the last person to reside in it was Harriet Hatiouk. She played a pinnacle role in helping the building survive because, during her residence, the widening of Highway 2 threatened to tear down the structure. Her refusal and appeal to the city led to the establishment being moved instead. Since 1980, the building has been renovated and maintained as a restaurant with various names and owners. In 2020, the building was added to Pickering’s Heritage Registry.

The neighbourhood includes seven local parks with various amenities. Beverly Morgan Park is a large, central site named after a prominent city councillor that served from 1987 until she died in 1991. The park’s facilities include a playground, basketball court, football, mini soccer pitch, turf soccer field, softball diamond, running track, and volleyball court. A couple of others are Glengrove Park, which features full-sized outdoor basketball courts and tennis courts, and Maple Ridge Park, home to a playground, baseball diamond, and tennis courts. 

Residents can easily enjoy Beachfront Park and Millennium Square by simply driving south on Liverpool Road. These lakeside sites often host events and include a children’s splash pad, two beach volleyball courts, two playgrounds, picnicking areas, and access to the Waterfront Trail.

Two local tennis clubs use the neighbourhood’s amenities. Glendale Tennis Club has existed since 1987 – for all ages and skill levels – and is the largest tennis club in Durham because it uses David Farr Park’s four courts. Maple Ridge Tennis Club is a small, private neighbourhood club for players of all levels working within Maple Ridge Park. 

For other recreational needs, the Chestnut Hill Developments Recreation Complex is a less than five-minute drive from the neighbourhood. The facility is on Valley Farm Road, across from City Hall, and boasts amenities like a multi-lane swimming pool, ice rinks, fitness studios, community rooms, banquet halls, as well as racquetball, squash, and tennis courts.

The neighbourhood’s central location makes commute times short with easy access to the 401 and Pickering GO Station via Liverpool Road. By car, travellers can reach Downtown Toronto in just over 30 minutes. Five bus lines run through and around the neighbourhood to take commuters into Pickering GO Station. A trip to Union Station on public transit should only take an hour. 

Liverpool sits in the heart of Pickering and enjoys straightforward access to amenities around the city. Everyday conveniences are available within the neighbourhood’s borders, giving residents many fantastic options for how to spend their days.