For shopping needs, there are a number of shops and services on Gerrard, River and Parliaments streets. There is a community health centre and the Regent Park Recreation Centre, which has a gym, meeting room and a pool. Regent Park park has ice rinks, a baseball diamond, playgrounds and a wading pool. There is also the Parliament Street Public Library. which offers plenty of programs for all ages, and the Arts and Cultural Centre.

Regent Park was home to some of Toronto’s slums in the early 1900’s. Most residents of the area were poor and working-class people. Social problems and crime became more and more apparent in the area, so plans to create affordable housing in World War II began to form. Families began to move into the area shortly after the war. However, once people were settled in the area, similar problems began to arise because of the shared housing. Soon, however, a redevelopment plan was implemented and the area became a mixed-income neighbourhood. Regent Park is Canada’s first public housing project.