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Formerly Shaw Millennium Park, this 7 hectare downtown park has what the City calls Canada's largest free outdoor skatepark, with 75,000 square feet of skateable surface open 24 hours. The park also has three climbing boulders called The Three Little Brothers, basketball courts and first come, first served beach volleyball courts.

A big open lawn on False Creek at the edge of Yaletown, right on the seawall, with a playground, basketball and tennis courts and sculptures along the water. In spring its cherry trees make it one of the prettiest blossom spots downtown, and it hosts free events like the Cherry Blossom Festival's Big Picnic. Free; dogs welcome on leash.

A 12 hectare riverside park across the Bow River from Bowness Park, with flower gardens, archways, arbours and a river lookout. Walk the promenades, play the free disc golf course or join the Bow River pathway, which runs east to Bowmont Park. Free and open daily from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., with washrooms.

A City of Calgary outdoor skating rink in West Confederation Park in the northwest, a quiet neighbourhood park with trees and walking paths. The rink usually runs from December to March, weather permitting; check its status on the City rink page before you go. Free, first come first served, bring your own skates.

A small, friendly City of Calgary skating rink in Thomson Family Park on 16 Avenue SW, easy for watching young kids and close to the 17th Avenue cafés. The park also has playgrounds and public art. The rink usually runs from December to March, weather permitting; check its status on the City rink page before you go. Free, first come first served, bring your own skates.

A free leisure skating rink in the southwest part of Prairie Winds Park, north of the cricket pitch, in northeast Calgary. Open from December to mid March, depending on the weather; bring your own skates (no rentals) and leave the hockey sticks at home. Helmets are strongly encouraged. Free, run by the City of Calgary.

A free City of Calgary outdoor skating rink in Big Marlborough Park in the northeast, a handy neighbourhood spot for a family skate after school or on weekends. The rink is flooded in winter, usually about December to February, first come first served (check its status on the City's outdoor rinks page). Bring your own skates; hockey sticks, nets and sleds are not allowed on the ice.

North Glenmore Park, on the north shore of the Glenmore Reservoir, has a free skating ice trail plus a separate shinny hockey rink in winter, both run by the City of Calgary. The trail winds through the park with views of the reservoir and the mountains on clear days. Free, first come first served, usually about December to February (check ice status on the City page). Never skate on the reservoir itself: that ice is unsafe.

A free City of Calgary outdoor skating rink in Carburn Park, a quiet riverside park in the southeast with ponds and walking paths along the Bow River. The rink is flooded in winter, usually about December to February, and is first come first served (check its status on the City's outdoor rinks page). Bring your own skates; hockey sticks, nets and sleds are not allowed on the ice.

A natural ice rink on the lagoon of Prince's Island Park, one of two free outdoor rinks the City keeps in downtown parks. Skate with the office towers and the Bow River right beside you, then warm up with a walk across the footbridges. Free, first come first served, usually from about December to February when the ice is ready (check the rink status on the City page). Hockey sticks, nets and sleds are not allowed on the ice.

Calgary's favourite winter skate: the lagoon at Bowness Park freezes into a free outdoor rink, with a 1.6 km ice trail beside the Bow River, fire pits to warm up and crokicurl to try. The season usually runs mid November to mid March, depending on the weather, so check the ice status on the City page before you go. Skating is free; skate and ice bike rentals cost extra. Helmets strongly encouraged, no hockey sticks or sleds on the ice.

Cardinal Creek Community Park on Trim Road has a boarded, lit and supervised outdoor rink in the City of Ottawa's outdoor rink data. It serves the growing east end of Orléans with a place for shinny and family skating. City outdoor rinks are free to use, and the season usually runs from mid or late December to mid February, depending on the weather.