Peter Pan statue in Glenn Gould Park

This lovely sculpture is a replica of one placed in Kensington Gardens, next to Hyde Park, London, in 1912. The sculptor was Sir George Frampton, but J.M. Barrie, the author of Peter Pan, figured prominently in it’s design and placement.
Toronto’s replica, unveiled in 1929, sits in Glenn Gould Park (formerly known as Peter Pan Park) at the northwest corner of Avenue Rd. and St. Clair Ave. W. about a block west of a building in which Gould lived.
While walking by on St. Clair with a friend who knew and loved the sculpture, said friend asked if I had ever seen it before. I hadn’t so we went in for a look, and as we got closer the whimsical details revealed themselves to us.
The statue shows Peter Pan standing on a tree stump playing a flute while a collection of fairies, rabbits, squirrels and other little creatures hide in the nooks and crannies of the trunk. Look closely and you’ll also find a frog, a lizard and some mice. Frampton described his work as follows: «The animals and fairies on the statue are listening to the Pipes of Pan, one of the mice is completing his toilet before going up to listen to the music, and the squirrel is discussing political matters with two of the fairies.»
None of these details reveal themselves from the sidewalk… you’ve got to walk into the park and take a closer look. You won’t be sorry if you do.