Parks and Play

This 19 hectare natural park sits on a sandy plateau with a raised rocky escarpment that gives lovely views over Québec City and the south shore. It has 3 km of marked trails through a mature sugar maple and beech forest, picnic spots, and snowshoeing in winter. Free, open daily from 6 AM until dusk, with street parking on boulevard du Loiret and boulevard Jean-Talon.

A wild stretch of wooded Lake Ontario shoreline in the Kipling and Lakeshore area, with a network of paths, wetlands and rocky points looking back at the skyline. It is one of Toronto's top birding spots, home to many plants, trees and wildlife, and in winter it also has a figure eight skating trail. Open year round and free.

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.