Parks and Play

A peaceful lakeside park just east of Ontario Place on the Martin Goodman Trail, planted as a living memorial with a Royal Oak marking the coronation of King George VI surrounded by a ring of maples. Engraved markers beside many trees honour Canadian military units, and the lake views are lovely at any season. Open year round and free.

A lakeside park at the foot of Parkside Drive with a playground full of toy dinosaurs, an accessible wheelchair swing, an ornamental fountain and a wading pool for summer. The Martin Goodman Trail runs through it, and carved wooden Hungarian memorial posts stand near the water. Open year round and free.

A large park in northeast Scarborough with a paved path that loops around a pond, open lawns and a picnic pavilion. The playground was renewed in 2022 with swings, a group swing and play structures for ages two to five and five to twelve. Main entrance on the south side of Steeles Avenue East; open year round and free.

One of Toronto's biggest parks, a green valley in Scarborough where Highland Creek winds between many mature trees and footpaths. Families come for the picnic areas, playground and splash pad, and the trails link to the Meadoway and the waterfront. Enter from the west side of Morningside Avenue between Ellesmere and Lawrence; open year round and free.

A large flood control park along the West Don River with more than four kilometres of trails, open meadows, picnic sites, a fire pit, cricket pitches and soccer fields. There is a fenced dog off leash area, and the trails are groomed for cross country skiing in winter when snow allows. Open year round and free.

A 6.5 hectare park that runs from Queen Street East down to the boardwalk and beach, with its famous gazebo, the heritage Leuty lifeguard station nearby and the historic Gardener's Cottage. It is the green heart of the Beaches neighbourhood, with a war memorial and a fenced dog off leash area. Open year round and free.

A friendly neighbourhood park wrapped around the historic former TTC streetcar barns, with a children's playground, an open field that becomes a natural ice rink in winter, a beach volleyball court and picnic tables. There is also a fenced dog off leash area and lots of new trees and gardens. Open year round and free.

A waterfront park in the east end on land formed from old sand dunes, with a wide sandy beach, picnic areas, bird watching and a skateboard park nearby. Paved and hard packed paths of the Martin Goodman and Waterfront trails cross the park, and there are several parking lots. Open year round and free.

An 18 hectare hillside park near Danforth and Broadview, loved for one of the best free views of the downtown skyline, especially at sunset. Paths lead down the slope through maple and ash woods to a small restored marsh and the Lower Don Trail. Open year round and free.

A lakeside park at the mouth of Etobicoke Creek, created after Hurricane Hazel, with a wide sandy beach, a playground, a wading pool, picnic spots and walking trails that link to the Waterfront Trail. It is rich in wildlife and native plants and has a fenced dog off leash area. Open year round and free.

A relaxed sandy beach at the foot of Cherry Street on the Outer Harbour, with shady trees, a dog off leash area and ample parking along the Martin Goodman Trail. The west side is popular with kite boarders, and the beach has earned the Blue Flag for water quality and environmental care. Free to visit all year.

A long lakeside park on the site of the old Sunnyside amusement park, with a sandy beach, a boardwalk and the Martin Goodman Trail running right along Lake Ontario. It is a favourite spot for picnics, sunset walks and wide lake views, with a playground in neighbouring Sir Casimir Gzowski Park. Open year round and free.