Parks and Play

A small green square at the corner of Rue Saint-Louis and Rue D'Auteuil, just inside the Porte Saint-Louis, linking Old Québec and Parliament Hill. Its centrepiece is the Boer War monument by Hamilton McCarthy, with two giant chessboards at its foot that anyone can play on, surrounded by trees and benches. Free and open any time.

Québec City's free play park, designed with neighbourhood residents so children can invent their own games: climbing blocks, grassy mounds, balance logs, a rain garden, a tall grass path, stage platforms and a toy chest. In summer there is water play, and in winter an ice ring for skating. Free and open to all.

A riverside park beside the Lévis ferry terminal, great for relaxing and picnicking with a view of Old Québec. Its fountain, with 169 jets up to 9 metres high and 172 lights, is the most powerful of its kind in Canada and doubles as a splash pad in summer, while a refrigerated skating trail opens in winter. Free to use; both the water play and the ice trail are seasonal (currently closed for the season), and the site has washrooms, a family change room and accessible features.

A 19th century English estate in historic Sillery, set on landscaped grounds above the St. Lawrence, with one of Québec's rare historic gardens, a large vegetable garden and a woods that covers half the site. It is a lovely spot to stroll, look at the river and watch urban woodland birds. The grounds are free and open all year from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., parking is free, and leashed dogs are welcome outside.

A green amphitheatre of 5,000 square metres on Grande Allée Est, behind the Parliament Building and facing the Manège militaire, built around a pool and fountain with mature trees. In summer it hosts several cultural events, and a diagonal path crosses it between government buildings. It is a free public park open all year (closed 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.), and leashed dogs are welcome.

A waterfront park on the Ottawa River in the Aylmer sector, next to the marina, with lawns, accessible washrooms, a free outdoor exercise circuit and a beginner sliding hill in winter. It is reachable on foot, by bike or by transit, and parking is free. Entry is free; the outdoor equipment rental counter in the Robert-Middlemiss pavilion charges a fee.

A large city nature park around Lac Beauchamp, minutes from downtown Gatineau, with maintained walking loops of 2.2 km and 3.4 km, forest, wetlands and a beach area. In winter it becomes an outdoor centre with a sliding hill, skating, snowshoe and cross-country ski trails. The park is open 7 am to 10 pm and access to the site and parking is free; equipment rentals cost extra (free with the Accès Gatineau+ card).

A large waterfront park on the Ottawa River with ponds, open lawns, riverside paths and plenty of geese and ducks, one of the few City parks with designated charcoal barbecue pits. In winter it is the western start of the Britannia Winter Trail toward Mud Lake. Like all City parks it is open daily from 5 am to 11 pm, and entry is free.

The public park around the historic Aberdeen Pavilion, with a children's play area, skate park, water plaza, civic gardens, a heirloom orchard and an outdoor skating court that becomes a refrigerated rink in winter. The park is open daily from 5 am to 11 pm and is free to enjoy, with free markets and events often on the square. The Great Lawn and the sledding hill are closed until further notice.

A classic City of Ottawa park in Sandy Hill on the west bank of the Rideau River, with big lawns, mature trees and riverside paths, lovely in every season including snowy winter walks. Like all City parks it is open daily from 5 am to 11 pm. Entry is free.

A large wooded park along the Rideau River with walking paths, open lawns and picnic areas for small informal gatherings. It is open daily from May to mid October, 7 am to dusk, on a first come, first served basis; there is no drinking water for now. Visiting the park is free, and in winter a shared winter trail runs along the river nearby.

A riverside park on the north shore of the Ottawa River between the Chaudières Dam and Lemieux Island, named for the historic canoe portage around the falls. Brewery Creek flows through it, two public artworks stand on the site and the dam is in view. It is a free park, a good stop on a walk or ride along the Gatineau riverfront.