Parks and Play

An 11 hectare park along Nose Creek with pathways, a playground, a picnic shelter, open grass, ball diamonds and an off leash area. The Nose Creek pathway, part of the Trans Canada Trail, runs through it, and a 37 metre bridge links both sides; there is a parking lot off 6 Street N.E. Free, open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Calgary's oldest park, finished by 1912 as a formal Victorian garden, with the Memorial Park Library, a National Heritage Site, pathways, an equestrian Boer War memorial and a 1924 First World War soldier statue. Remembrance Day ceremonies are held here every November 11. Free, open 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.; the cenotaph is temporarily closed for cleaning.

A riverfront park on the Fraser with a 325 m boardwalk that, with the Waterfront Esplanade, forms a 2.5 km waterfront park. It has a play area, a basketball court, ping pong tables and an outdoor fitness circuit, and recently gained about two acres of new parkland to the west. Free; reach it by the Fourth Street overpass (outdoor elevator) or the Sixth Street ramp.

A Metro Vancouver regional park on the Pacific Flyway, with dune habitat, the short Dune Trail loop, raptor trails and the dyke trail with ocean and mountain views and two wildlife viewing platforms. Centennial Beach has picnic tables and unsupervised swimming. Free; the park opens at 7 am, and dogs must be leashed and are not allowed on the beach.

A seaside beach in South Surrey with a pier and a seaside nature trail, plus swimming and beach volleyball in summer. It is free to visit for a walk on the shore.

A big city park open dawn to dusk with flower gardens, nature trails and paved paths, a large playground, a 365 m walking track, a skatepark and outdoor fitness equipment. Dogs are welcome in a fenced off leash area. Free; the park is being improved, so some areas may be closed at times.

Port Moody's waterfront park at the head of Burrard Inlet, with a recreational pier, a playground, a skateboard park and the start of the Shoreline Trail. The spray park runs only from the May long weekend to about September. Free to visit.

Coquitlam's big city park around Lafarge Lake, with a loop trail, lawn meadows and a fishing pier, plus a playground with accessible features, a skateboard bowl, outdoor fitness equipment and table tennis. The lake is stocked with rainbow trout from March to November. Free to visit.

Airdrie's main park, with 20 acres of natural area, nature trails, an amphitheatre, a fire pit, picnic tables and a covered shelter. Nose Creek Pond is stocked with trout twice in summer, and parking is free. In December the park hosts the free Airdrie Festival of Lights.

A big southeast park around a 20 hectare stormwater pond, with an inclusive playground, picnic shelters, pathways, a rose garden, an interactive sundial and an off leash area in the southeast corner. Parking lots are off 60 Street and 68 Street S.E. It is free and open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.; the park closes when the pond fills with water.

A 21 hectare park with a large designated off leash area and a dog water fountain, plus Cat Margetts Memorial Park, described by the City as a park within a park. It is free and open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.

A waterfront park on Burrard Inlet with a sandy shore, picnic areas overlooking the water and Drummond's Walk. It opens at 7 am and closes at dusk from October to April. Free; there is a designated dog off leash area, but dogs are not allowed on the beach.