Parks and Play

A large city park on boulevard Gene-H.-Kruger with a play area, sports fields, a fenced dog park and a free splash pad. In summer the splash pad runs every day from 8 am to 10 pm, and two adapted wheelchairs are available there for children with disabilities. The park itself is free to use all year.

The downtown waterfront park on the St. Lawrence, right by Terrasse Turcotte and rue des Forges. The Espace Saint-Lau rest area gives you a place to sit with a view of the river. Open every day from 7 am to 3 am. Free.

Harwood Nature Park, on the former Harwood Golf Club, is a vast green space open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. In winter it offers cross country ski trails (once there are 20 cm of snow), a natural sliding hill at the entrance when weather allows, outdoor fire pits and a welcome pavilion open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Snow tubes and adaptive equipment such as an all terrain wheelchair are lent free to everyone (other gear is free only for residents). Leashed dogs are allowed on the marked walking trail, and there is a fenced dog area.

Pierre Elliott Trudeau Park is Côte Saint-Luc's big central park, with a walking and jogging path around Centennial Lake, playgrounds for ages 2 to 12, a picnic area and the Shalom Bloom Sculpture Garden. In winter its sliding hill near Stephen Leacock Avenue and Louis Pasteur Road opens from early January to mid March, weather permitting, from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., with heated toilets; helmets are strongly recommended. The park is open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. and free to visit.

A large North Burnaby park with a 700 square metre playground, a skateboard plaza, picnic areas and a running track. On the north side, across Penzance Drive, a 1.3 km forest loop with steep hills offers a view of Burrard Inlet and allows off leash dogs year round, and there are two fenced off leash areas near the tennis courts. Open dawn to dusk; free (the summer spray park and model train are closed for the season).

A riverside park on the north arm of the Fraser River, with wide paved paths for walking and rolling and lookout piers to watch tugboats, barges and log booms. It has a playground with a riverside pirate ship, a free 12 station outdoor fitness circuit, and off leash areas on the open lawn and along the Byrne Creek dike. Open dawn to dusk year round, with accessible paths, play structure and washrooms; free.

A park with easy to medium trails through forested creek ravines, a playground and picnic area, a 9 hole disc golf course and tennis and pickleball courts. Dogs can run off leash along the BC Hydro right of way and in a large open area in the north central part of the park. Open dawn to dusk year round, with accessible parking and washrooms, though hills can make some routes hard; free.

Richmond's central park, north of Granville Avenue between Minoru Boulevard and Gilbert Road, with walking routes around the Minoru Lakes, floral displays and a waterfall. You can also see the historic Minoru Chapel and Pierrefonds Garden, public art, exercise equipment and a children's playground. Free, with on site parking.

New Westminster's flagship park, about 75 acres, established in 1887, with mature trees and walking and running trails linking its gardens and amenities. Free features include the Centennial Lodge and Herb House rose gardens, playgrounds, an outdoor fitness circuit, a bike skills area, a skatepark and a popular off leash dog area. The outdoor stage is currently closed for construction.

A fenced off leash area in Granville Park with two sections, one for all dogs and one for small or shy dogs. It has engineered wood fibre surfacing and agility elements, and serves Kitsilano and Fairview. Free to use.

A 55 acre park with more than 2 km of paved pathways, three playgrounds, a skateboard park, a multi use court, shaded picnic tables and a toboggan hill in winter. In summer the fenced Summer Fun Spray Park has water toys, a discovery stream and slides. Parking is free.

A small beach on Chestermere Lake with a walking path along the peninsula, a pirate ship playground, a basketball pad, a gazebo and pickleball courts. Free to visit.