Parks and Play

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.

A big 51 hectare park on the site of an old golf course, with playgrounds, a sensory garden, a splash pad, an outdoor amphitheatre and paved walking and cycling trails. The trails wind through a tall deciduous forest that turns bright colours in the fall. Open year round and free for everyone.

A natural park with rocky cliffs and views over the Laurentians, rising to about 485 m, one of the highest summits in the region, with a playground, picnic areas, a lookout tower over a wetland and a dog run. Hiking trails are open daily from 6 a.m. until dusk, and in winter there are snowshoe trails, groomed walking paths and a small sliding hill. Access to the hiking and snowshoe trails and the parking lots is free (equipment rentals are paid; the Les Ruisseaux trail is closed for now).

A green riverside park along the Saint-Charles River in Limoilou, managed by Parks Canada at the spot where Jacques Cartier wintered in 1535 to 1536. It is a pleasant place for a stroll or a picnic, with a bike path passing nearby. The grounds are open year round and Parks Canada lists daily visitor entry as free (the interpretation centre opens in summer only).

A 99 hectare mature forest of maples, walnuts and conifers on an old marine terrace, with 6 km of hiking trails, several along the Rivière du Berger, and about 140 bird species recorded. There is a playground with a natural slide, picnic spots and groomed trails for winter walking (no cycling). Open daily 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.; access is free at all times.

A nearly 30 hectare park on the eastern part of the former Québec zoo, with gardens, winding paths, ponds, a wooded area along the Rivière du Berger and the remains of old mills. There is a playground and picnic spots, and in winter the wooded trails are groomed for walking and snowshoeing. Park hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. from November to March and 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. from April to October; access and parking are free at all times.