FREE Outdoor Parks In Ontario | Entertain Kids on a Dime Blog

UPDATED! I have put together a list of FREE Outdoor Parks, Splash Pads, Beaches, Farms & Zoos. Please note that some places may charge for parking. I chose the most unique looking parks and splash pads to list. Some of them I have not yet visited but I plan to take my children to as many as I can.  If you are going to plan a beach visit, make sure to check online that it is safe to swim. I hope you enjoy and save lots and lots of money while still having a great time with your kids.

**FREE PUBLIC PARKS & SPLASH PADS**

*Chinguacousy Park (Brampton) 9050 Bramalea Road

Central Park Drive & Queen Street East

Free Admission Free Parking (​500 parking spaces on site) Picnic areas Beach Volleyball Courts Tennis Courts ​Tropical Gardens/Greenhouse Playground: FREE Splash Pad: FREE Barn Walkthrough: FREE Petting Zoo: $1 per person Mini Golf: $3.90 per person Paddle Boats: $9 for 30 minutes Merry Go Round: $3 per person

Train Rides: $5 per person

http://www.brampton.ca/en/residents/Community-Centres/DMG-Chinguacousy-Park/Pages/Welcome.aspx

*Kidstown Water Playground (Scarborough)
3159 Birchmound Road

Kidstown is the only water park operated by the City of Toronto. It is one of Scarborough’s most popular outdoor aquatic facilities for preschool and grade school children. It offers a variety of water features, including a tipping bucket, spray rings, squirting aquatic animals, a slide, wading pool, splash pad and so much more.

Playground on on site.

416 396-8325
http://www1.toronto.ca/parks/prd/facilities/complex/352/

*Rocket Ship Park (Whitby)
Twin Streams Road

(Personal Photo: Courtesy of Entertain Kids reader Colleen Morris)

Playground Soccer Field Basketball Court

Splash Pad

*Personal photo by Colleen Morris

https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=209264309111580&refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fca.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3B_ylt%3DA2KLj9GofNRTO18AwSTtFAx.&_rdr

*Earl Bales Park (North York)
4169 Bathurst Street

2 playgrounds Splash pad Walking and bike trails Picnic areas

Fire pits

http://www1.toronto.ca/parks/prd/facilities/complex/337/index.htm

*Jamie Bell Adventure Park (Toronto) High Park Blvd.

(Entrance from Parkside Ave.)

Jamie Bell Adventure Park is located by the Duck Pond, close to the High Park Blvd. entrance from Parkside Ave.

FREE Zoo & Wading Pool

http://highparktoronto.com/playground.php

*Kew Gardens (Toronto)
2075 Queen St East

Fun large tree house style playground Wading Pool

Short walk to the beach

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kew_Gardens_(Toronto)

*Corktown Common Playground (Toronto)

Cool playground Very high slide, Sheltered pavilion

Splash Pad

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corktown_Common

*Little Norway Park (Toronto)
Bathurst Street and Queens Quay

Wading pool, children’s unique playground

many walking paths through gardens.

http://www1.toronto.ca/parks/prd/facilities/complex/128/index.htm

*Dufferin Grove Park (Toronto)

The Wading pool The Sandpit an oval of sand about 20 feet wide by 40 feet long, ringed by big wooden logs. It was put into the park in 1993.

Playground

http://dufferinpark.ca/play/wiki/wiki.php

*Neshama Playground/Oriole Park (Toronto) Chaplain Crescent

Near Davisville and Yonge

Saucer Swing Large musical chimes Spider web spinner that moves in circles Water table

Splash Pad

http://wx.toronto.ca/inter/it/newsrel.nsf/11476e3d3711f56e85256616006b891f/b6f7cd1c7c8fb02585257a44003ee64b

*Withrow Park (Toronto)
Carlaw (Major Intersection: South of Danforth at Carlaw)

Ball diamonds Sports field, Two outdoor tennis courts Volleyball court Dog off-leash area Wading pool Children’s playground

Sandbox

http://www1.toronto.ca/parks/prd/facilities/complex/306/

*Exhibition Park (Guelph)
70 Division Street

Playground with unique design Wading pool Tennis Courts Soccer field

Baseball fields

http://guelph.ca/exhibition-park/
*Pier 4 Park (Hamilton)
64 Leander Drive

There’s an 80-foot tugboat play structure that is oriented to provide children with a full view of the water. Playground Splash Pad Marina

Picnic area

http://www.hamilton.ca/parks-recreation/parks-trails-and-beaches/parks-listing

*Valleyridge Park (Oakville)
2524 Valleyridge Drive

Soccer Field Playground

Splashpad

http://www.oakville.com/directory/parks/valleyridge-park

*Lakefront Promenade Park (Mississauga)
800 Lakefront Promenade (off of Lakeshore Road East, east of Cawthra Road)

Boardwalk Marina Walking Trails Playground Splash pad Fishing areas

Licensed out door patio and grill.

http://www.mississauga.ca/portal/residents/parks?paf_gear_id=9700018&itemId=300020

*Madoc Skatepark (Madoc/Near Bellville)
11379 Highway #62, RR#5

•Large skate park •Junior skate park for beginner levels •3 Level high playground •Splashpad

•Skateboards, helmets, and bikes are available to rent

http://www.ruralroutes.com/5184.html

*The ROC (Keswick)
26479 Civic Centre Road

Free Amenities Basketball Courts Beach Volleyball Bike Park Nature Trails Tennis Courts Playground Splash Pad

Pioneer Village

Added Costs Rock Climbing Zipline

High Ropes

http://www.georginaroc.ca/pricing.aspx

**PUBLIC BEACHES**

*Innisfil beach (Innisfil, ON)

Free admission

Parking:

$3 per hour $15 per full day Kids playground Picnic benches Public washrooms

No Dogs

http://www.innisfil.ca/i-want/contact-town-general-concern

*Centennial Beach (Barrie, ON)
65 Lakeshore Drive

Features: Sandy beach, Lifeguard, Washrooms, Accessible playground, Mini golf, Beach volleyball, Food concession, Parking lot, Walking distance to downtown, Paved 4-season multiuse recreation trail that is part of the Waterfront Trail and the Trans Canada Trail, Dogs are not permitted on waterfront parks.

http://www.barrie.ca/Living/RecreationFacilities/Pages/Beaches.aspx

*J.B. Tudhope Park (Orillia)
450 Atherly Road

Accessible playground Splash pad Swimming beach Beach volleyball courts 2 lit baseball diamonds Flower gardens Picnic tables Trail

Washrooms and fountains

http://www.ontarioslakecountry.com/listing/jb-tudhope-park#sthash.1fT6zplG.dpuf

*Couchiching Beach (Orillia)
140 Canice Street

Playground Swimming beach Icecream Store Mini Train Rides (There is a small fee for the train)

Trail

http://www.orillia.ca/en/livinginorillia/communityparks.asp

*Blue Water Park (Wiarton)
402 William Street

•Camp ground •Picnic area •Outdoor swimming pool •Beach •Playground •Trails

•Historic train station

http://www.touristtown.ca/mobile/listingdetail.html?listing_id=1064&category=75&parent=5&cat=Things%20to%20Do&subcat=Wi-Fi%20Available®ion=6

*Rogers Cove (Peterborough)
131 Maria Street

•Trans Canada Trail •Playground structure •Washroom facilities •Splash Pad

•Supervised Beach (in the summer)

http://www.peterborough.ca/Living/Recreation/Peterborough_Parks/Rogers_Cove.htm

*Cobourg Beach (Cobourg)

Kids Playground Splash pad Board walk

Free Parking on Side Streets on Weekends

http://www.cobourgtourism.ca/index.html?devicelock=desktop

*Riverside Park (Guelph)
709 Woolwich Street

Children’s playground Antique carousel (extra charge) Pedal Boats (extra charge) Miniature train rides (extra charge) Horse pits Giant chess/checker game Sand beach area Trails 3 baseball diamond

Picnic shelters

http://guelph.ca/seasonal/rides-at-riverside-park-carousel-miniature-train-and-paddle-boats/

*Beachway Park and Pavilion (Burlington)

The Beachway Park Pavilion and multi-use trails provide a 2 km route from Spencer Smith Park to the canal. The pavilion provides change rooms, outdoor showers, seasonal concession facilities featuring the Snack Shack and year round washrooms. Amenities at the beach include the pavilion, parking, a pay phone, a playground, and lots of sun, sand, and water.

www.cms.burlington.ca

*Lakeside Park (St. Catherine’s)
1 Lakeport Road

Heritage Carousel (5 cents per ride) 1,500 feet of sandy beach Picnic area, Concessions Playground

Dressing area and washroom

http://www.stcatharines.ca/en/

*Beachfront Park & Millennium Square (Pickering, ON)
Southern end of Liverpool Road or Alex Robertson Park at the southern end of Sandy Beach Road.

Splash pad play area Children’s Park (9:00am-9:00 pm, weather permitting) 2 beach volleyball courts (nets hung daily during summer months) Swimming Allowed

Public washrooms (9am-9pm)

http://www.pickering.ca/en/discovering/beachfrontparkmillenniumsquare.asp

**To find out if the lakes are safe to swim in, go to www.theswimguide.org and in the search box type in the name of the beach.

**FARMS & ZOOS**

*Riverdale Farms (Toronto)
201 Winchester Street

This park features: Historic working farm, scenic pathways, programs and seasonal events, pig and poultry barn, historic Francey Barn, Simpson House, Meeting House, the “Residence”, Old Zoo Ruins.

http://www1.toronto.ca/wps/portal/contentonly?vgnextoid=a4f8dada600f0410VgnVCM10000071d60f89RCRD

*Lionel’s Farm (Stouffville)
11714 McCowan Road

Some of the animals that can be seen or touched are sheep, goats, pigs, cow, donkeys ponies, deer, llama, alpaca, rabbits, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys, pigeons, pheasants, peacocks, and a various times throughout the year, many will have babies by their side. Our animals are curious and friendly and are a big hit with kids of all ages.
You can bring your own food to feed the animals: mini carrots, cut celery, lettuce, and/or bread.

http://www.lionelsfarm.com/petting-zoo/

*Pine Farms Orchard (King City)
2700, 16th Sideroad

This is my favourite place to pick apples. They have a small park, a few little animals, and a store filled with the tastiest food.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Pine-Farms-Orchard/176480305709285?fref=photo

*Watsons Farm (Bowmanville)
2287 Regional Hwy 2

Small Place Tractor to climb on Hay Jump Teepee Slide

Wagon Rides are offered during strawberry or apple picking seasons

http://www.watsonfarms.ca/

*The Big Apple (Colborne, ON)
Off highway 401 at exit #497

Picnic Grounds Train Rides Shuffle board, Bocce Ball & Ping Pong Tables Mini Putt Golf Large Apple Observatory Animal Land (Chickens, Goats, Donkeys, Rabbits)

Country Store & Restaurant full of food and baked goods

http://www.thebigapple.ca/petting_zoo.asp

*Riverview Park & Zoo (Peterborough)
1230 Water Street

The zoo features 27 exhibits, with over 48 species, including Yak, Camel, Wallaby, Emu, Macaw, Squirrel Monkey, Cougar, Plated Lizard, Meerkat and more! The park covers 55.5 acres and is the largest and most diversified playground in the city. It also features equipment for physically-challenged children.

With a splash pad, frisbee golf course, walking trails, a miniature train ride, and beautiful gardens we have something for everyone.

http://www.peterboroughutilities.ca/Park_and_Zoo.htm

*The Dutch Mill (Dundas)
533 Millgrove Road Side Road

There is a giant market that carried everything and a restaurant on site. Free Petting Zoo

Free Park

http://www.thedutchmill.ca

*Happy Rolph’s Animal Farm (St. Catherine’s) 650 Read Road

(Corner of Read Rd. and Northrup)

Animal viewing area Large playground Picnic area and pavilion 9/11 Memorial Walkway Trail

The animals will be at Happy Rolph’s from Victoria Day weekend until Thanksgiving weekend.

http://www.stcatharines.ca/en/playin/HappyRolphs.asp