South of downtown St. Thomas
Pinafore Park St. Thomas, Ontario
Established, tree lined streets around one of the city’s biggest parks, a short trip from the hospital and downtown Talbot Street.
- 111 acresPinafore Park, with trails, a pond and gardens
- 1898Year the Emslie Field diamond opened
- 6 pavilionsAvailable to rent for parties and receptions
- 2.5 kmTo downtown Talbot Street
Homes for sale in Pinafore Park and across St. Thomas
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Listings updated live from the MLS.
Neighbourhood guide
What it is like to live near Pinafore Park
This is the green space corner of central St. Thomas. The streets around Pinafore Park are mature and tree lined, with century homes blending into post war pockets that suit families wanting larger yards. Buyers look here for the park at the door and for calm streets. It is not a builder community, so what you buy is an established home with some history behind it.
The park sets the pace of daily life. There are hiking and cross country ski trails, tennis and pickleball courts, gardens, a pond with a small waterfall, the Rotary Splashpad and accessible playground equipment. Deer, ducks and many kinds of birds are common. On summer Sunday evenings, Music in the Park fills the Morris F. Jones Memorial Bandshell, and a ball game at Emslie Field is never far away.
The location is central. St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital, Fanshawe College’s St. Thomas campus and downtown Talbot Street are all within a few kilometres. The Lake Margaret Trail is just to the south, and the newer homes of Lake Margaret and Miller’s Pond sit beyond the park if you want something more recent. Port Stanley and Highway 401 are each about a 20 minute drive.
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01
A park named after a comic opera
The street railway company that developed the grounds in the 1890s named it for Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore.
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02
One of Canada’s oldest ballfields
The diamond opened in 1898 and carries a Canadian historical designation. It is named for a local umpire who worked 33 big league seasons.
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03
A pond that once made ice and powered a mill
Pinafore Pond supported skating and a block ice business in winter, and its run off stream drove a mill waterwheel.
Market snapshot
What homes cost near Pinafore Park
No sold or listing figures specific to the Pinafore area were found, so the numbers below are city and regional benchmarks. Recent sales on the street you are considering are the best guide.
- ~50Days on market, city wide, June 2026
- ~$300Per square foot list, city wide, June 2026
Full source list at the bottom of the page. For a specific street, recent sold prices are the real answer, and we can pull them for you.
Homes you will find near Pinafore Park
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Century and early 20th century homes
Character homes on the mature streets that grew up around the park.
Older streets near Elm Street Varies
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Post war homes
Post war pockets that appeal to families wanting larger yards and tree lined avenues.
Streets around the park Varies
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Newer homes to the south
If you want newer construction close to the park, look just south in Lake Margaret and Miller’s Pond.
Toward Lake Margaret and Miller’s Pond 3 to 4 beds
When the homes were built: This is established housing. The park district grew after the St. Thomas Street Railway Company developed the Elm Street area in the 1890s, and the surrounding streets follow the city’s pattern of century homes blending into post war pockets.
Getting around
How far everything is from Pinafore Park
By foot, bike or car. Tap any place for live directions in Google Maps.
- Emslie Field0.5 km5 min
- Lake Margaret Trail1.5 km5 min
- St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital1.5 km5 min
- Downtown St. Thomas (Talbot St)2.5 km5 min
- Fanshawe College St. Thomas campus2.0 km5 min
- St. Thomas Elevated Park2.0 km5 min
- Highway 401 (Highbury Ave)12 km20 min
- Port Stanley14 km20 min
- Downtown London29 km40 min
See every time as a table
| Destination | Distance | Walk | Bike | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emslie Field | 0.5 km | 5 min | 5 min | 5 min |
| Lake Margaret Trail | 1.5 km | 20 min | 5 min | 5 min |
| St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital | 1.5 km | 20 min | 5 min | 5 min |
| Downtown St. Thomas (Talbot St) | 2.5 km | 30 min | 10 min | 5 min |
| Fanshawe College St. Thomas campus | 2.0 km | 25 min | 10 min | 5 min |
| St. Thomas Elevated Park | 2.0 km | 25 min | 10 min | 5 min |
| Highway 401 (Highbury Ave) | 12 km | Not practical | 45 min | 20 min |
| Port Stanley | 14 km | Not practical | 55 min | 20 min |
| Downtown London | 29 km | Not practical | Not practical | 40 min |
Estimates from 95 Elm Street, walking at 5 km/h, cycling at 16 km/h and driving at city and highway speeds, rounded to 5 minutes. Traffic changes things, so check the live directions.
Is it right for you?
Who Pinafore Park suits best
Families
The splashpad, accessible playground, ball diamond and trails are all within walking distance.
Buyers who want green space
One of the city’s most complete parks sits right at the door, with trails, gardens and a pond.
Downsizers
A central location close to the hospital and downtown.
Sports and outdoors households
Tennis, pickleball, baseball and cross country skiing, all inside the park.
Character home buyers
Established streets with older housing stock and mature trees.
Worth knowing: Buyers who want new construction or a builder warranty will find more choice in newer communities to the south.
Around Pinafore Park
Parks, trails and places nearby
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0.3 km
Pinafore Park
About 111 acres of trails, gardens, a pond and small waterfall, with a splashpad, playground and bandshell.
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0.5 km
Emslie Field
The park’s ball stadium. Its diamond opened in 1898 and carries a Canadian historical designation.
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Morris F. Jones Memorial Bandshell
Music in the Park runs every Sunday from 6 to 8 pm in June, July and August.
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Rotary Splashpad and accessible playground
The family draws inside the park, a quick walk from the surrounding streets.
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Six rentable pavilions
Heritage style pavilions for reunions, birthdays and wedding receptions, each with water and hydro.
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Pinafore Park trails
Hiking in the warmer months and cross country skiing in winter, through a Carolinian woodland setting.
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1.5 km
Lake Margaret Trail
A trail just south of the park, toward the Lake Margaret and Miller’s Pond communities.
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2.0 km
St. Thomas Elevated Park
One of the city’s landmark attractions, a short bike ride from the park.
Schools
Schools near Pinafore Park
St. Thomas schools are run by the Thames Valley District School Board and the London District Catholic School Board, with French immersion options. Always confirm the catchment for a specific address with the board.
What is changing
What is changing around Pinafore Park
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Under construction
PowerCo battery plant
Foundation work began in October 2025, with production expected in 2027 and about 3,000 direct jobs, adding demand for central housing.
CBC News -
Ongoing
A growing city
St. Thomas grew 10.1% from 2016 to 2021, with large forecasts to 2051. Established central areas tend to tighten as a city grows.
Wikipedia
Pinafore Park: common questions
Something else on your mind? Ryan and Paul answer their own phones.
Pinafore Park is at 95 Elm Street in St. Thomas, about 2.5 km south of downtown. The established residential streets around it make up the area covered here.
It covers about 111 acres. Inside you will find trails, gardens, a pond, a splashpad, playgrounds, tennis and pickleball courts and a ball stadium.
It was apparently named after the then popular Gilbert and Sullivan operetta HMS Pinafore. The name dates from the 1890s, when the St. Thomas Street Railway Company developed the area.
It is the park’s ball stadium. The diamond opened in 1898, making it one of the oldest ballfields in Canada, and it was named in the 1950s for St. Thomas born umpire Bob Emslie.
Walk or ski the trails, use the Rotary Splashpad and accessible playground, or play tennis or pickleball. You can also watch a ball game at Emslie Field or catch Music in the Park at the bandshell on summer Sundays.
Yes. There are six pavilions available for reunions, parties and wedding receptions, and each has water and hydro.
They are part of the city’s established housing. Century homes blend into post war pockets on mature, tree lined streets.
No area specific figures were found. The city wide median list price was about $582,400 in June 2026, so check recent sales on the specific street.
Yes. The trails are used year round, including for cross country skiing. Washrooms, hydro and water run from Victoria Day weekend to Labour Day weekend, and two accessible washrooms are open daily all year.
St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital, Fanshawe College’s St. Thomas campus and downtown Talbot Street are all within a few kilometres. The Lake Margaret Trail is just to the south.
Still have a question?
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More St. Thomas neighbourhoods
The full St. Thomas guide- Downtown St. ThomasCentral St. Thomas
- Harvest RunSoutheast St. Thomas
- Orchard ParkSoutheast St. Thomas
- Shaw ValleySouthwest St. Thomas
- Lake Margaret and Miller’s PondSouth St. Thomas
- The Ridge and Freeman LaneHigher end pockets of St. Thomas
- DalewoodNorth St. Thomas
Sources and further readingLast reviewed September 2026 by Featherstone Sadler Real Estate Group
- City of St. Thomas, Pinafore Park: Park features, pavilions, bandshell, seasonal services
- Ticketscene, Pinafore Park venue page: Park size and address
- Closed Canadian Parks, Pinafore Park history: 1863 origins, street railway development, naming, pond history
- Ballpark Brothers, Emslie Field: 1898 diamond, 1903 City purchase, historical designation
- Mindtrip, Pinafore Park overview: Amenities and wildlife
- KeyHomes, St. Thomas properties: Area character and housing stock near the park
- ViewHomes, The Best Neighbourhoods in St. Thomas: June 2026 city wide price and market stats
- ViewHomes, St. Thomas real estate: School boards and nearby services
- Find Your Cove, LSTAR August 2026 market report: Regional average sale price
- CBC News, PowerCo battery plant: Plant construction and jobs
- Wikipedia, St. Thomas, Ontario: Population growth
- Pinafore Park on Google Maps
Travel times and distances are estimates. Prices are published figures with their dates; for a current number on a specific street, ask us for recent sold data.
