Parks and Play

A modern park at the foot of the Don River with rolling hills, a marsh with boardwalks, a playground and sports field, and great views of the downtown skyline. It is a great place for kids to run around and for a quiet walk by the wetland. Free and open year round.

A much loved community park across from Dufferin Mall, with a big playground, basketball and pickleball courts, ping pong tables, a skate spot, firepits and picnic sites. It has a lively neighbourhood feel and plenty of shade. Free and open year round.

A green downtown park right behind the Art Gallery of Ontario, with lawns, shady trees, a playground and a dog off leash area. It is a peaceful break from the busy streets of Chinatown and Queen West. Free and open year round.

A waterfront urban beach park with yellow umbrellas, sand and grassy mounds looking out over Toronto Harbour and the Islands. It is a relaxing place to lounge by the lake right downtown. Free and open year round.

Canada's Sugar Beach is an urban beach park on the waterfront with pink umbrellas, Muskoka chairs and sand beside the sugar refinery. It is a lovely spot to sit by the harbour and watch the boats. Free and open year round.

A big sunken park beside Christie subway station, with grassy slopes that make a natural amphitheatre around the baseball diamond. It has a playground, basketball and pickleball courts, a skate spot, ping pong tables, a firepit and picnic sites. Free and open year round.

One of downtown Toronto's liveliest parks, with big lawns, mature trees, a playground, picnic sites, tennis and pickleball courts and a popular dog off leash area in the hollow. It is a favourite spot for picnics and people watching right off Queen Street West. Open year round and free to enjoy.

A historic working farm on 7.5 acres in the heart of the city, with cows, sheep, goats, pigs and poultry, ponds, wooded areas and gardens. Kids love visiting the Francey Barn and the pig and poultry barn. Open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., including holidays (last entry 4:45 p.m.). Admission is free.

Toronto's largest public park, with Grenadier Pond, oak savannah, trails, playgrounds, picnic sites and a dog off leash area. About two thirds of the park is kept in a natural state, and it is famous for its spring cherry blossoms. The free High Park Zoo (Animal Display) is closed for road construction from October 13, 2026 until spring 2027, but the rest of the park is open year round. Entry is free.

A big La Prairie park for all seasons: a free splash pad from June 1 to September 15 (daily 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.), the playful 'Sentier de la bougeotte' activity trail by artist Valérie Trudel, and in winter an outdoor rink, an ice ring and a sledding hill with tube loans. Winter hours are roughly weekdays 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m., when weather allows.

Sainte-Julie's largest park, built around Lac des Outardes, with nature interpretation trails and mountain bike trails all year. In summer you can borrow pedal boats for free; in winter there is skating on the lake surface, a boarded hockey rink and a tube slide, open until 9:30 p.m. when conditions allow. Fishing is allowed only in a marked zone and needs a Québec fishing permit.

Saint-Basile's main park, with an outdoor skating rink and snowy slide lanes in winter, plus a playground, skatepark, outdoor fitness stations and a splash pad in summer (May to September). In winter the rinks are open weekdays 5 to 9 p.m. and weekends 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. when the weather allows, and skates, sliding tubes and snowshoes can be borrowed free at the skate hut with ID. Use of the equipment is free.