Ottawa is know as a green city that embraces and supports the natural environment. In Addition to the amazing National Capital Greenbelt and the Capital Pathway, Ottawa has hundreds of public and private landscaped parks, playgrounds, sports fields, beaches, tree-lined boulevards, wetlands, forests, and much more. You can find a complete list of park locations on the Ottawa website here.
Here’s our favorite Ottawa parks:
Dow’s Lake Park
Located on the Rideau Canal, this man-made park and lake is home to the annual Canadian Tulip Festival. In the winter, the lake is turned into a skating rink, and is a major site of the exciting Interlude Festival.
Brewer Park
This large municipal park on Bronson Avenue has three baseball diamonds, three soccer fields, a hockey arena, bike paths, a basketball courts, a waterfront and pond, a mini-waterpark, and a lots more amenities. As one of our favorite Ottawa parks, it’s the perfect spot to spent a day playing and relaxing in the city.
Lansdowne Park
Spanning 40 acres, Lansdowne Park has plenty of sports venues, and is known as the premier sports facility in Ottawa. Many sports teams practice and play here, and it’s also the location of a year-round farmers’ market, so you can relax for the day and then pick up fresh, local foods for a picnic! Close by, you will find plenty of restaurants and shopping options, too.
Major’s Hill Park
Another one of our favorite Ottawa parks in downtown Ottawa, this historic park rises above the Rideau Canal. Find it east of the Parliament Buildings. It overs some of the best scenic views in Ottawa and is known for its majesty trees, rolling lawns and leisurely pathways – the perfect spot for a midway break in your work day.
Mooney’s Bay Park
Situated on the Rideau Canal, this park has a swimming area with supervised lifeguards, a beach, a playground for kids, and even a stadium. Have fun with the volleyball nets you can rent from May until September, and swim in the waters of the Rideau Canal. This picturesque park often serves as the backdrop for wedding photography.
Vincent Massey Park
Also along the Rideau Canal, this urban park is a hotspot in the summer for family and group picnics. It features lots of scenic, wooded walking paths, grassy fields for sports and leisure, a bandstand, baseball diamonds and barbecue pits.
Confederation Park
Last but not least, right in Downtown Ottawa, Confederation Park is a National Historic Site of Canada. This lovely spot has lots of monuments and paved areas as well as an open lawn on the eastern side. Memorials found here include the Animals of War Memorial, the South African War Memorial and the National Aboriginal Veterans Monument, among others. It’s a great spot to eat lunch, take a break from work, or pass through as a short cut.
We hope you take time to relax and enjoy these and other favorite Ottawa Parks!
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Here’s more great info about Ottawa and Canada:
- Drink Local! Ontario’s Best Wineries, Breweries and Distilleries
- New Drivers: Obtaining an Ontario Driver’s License
- The Canadian Tulip Festival
(Photos: ankakay, erfan0, Wkipedia, SimonP, Pepper, I Padreaic Ryan, By-SA 3.0)