There are many parks throughout Burlington, including neighbourhood parks and parkettes. The parks listed here are unique: they are typically fairly large and offer distinctive features not found in most other locations. These parks are included to encourage you to explore Burlington and enjoy fresh air, beautiful scenery, and views year-round. Leash-free areas are noted; please see the rules for allowing your dog off-leash in these areas, found after the list of parks. Pickleball courts are listed, while sports fields are not, although there are many sports fields and baseball diamonds throughout the city. For a list of all parks in Burlington, visit Burlington.ca/en/modules/facilities/index.

We’ve used these symbols to make leash-free areas and pickleball courts easy to pick out from the list:

= Leash-free dog area

= Pickleball court

Apeldoorn Park, 1385 Elgin Street: renamed in recognition of the City of Burlington’s twin city, Apeldoorn, in the Netherlands. Walk or bike to this downtown park and enjoy gardens that include plants and colours reflecting the Netherlands.

Bayview Park, 1800 King Road: this park in Aldershot was the original leash-free area in Burlington, funded solely by donations from individuals and local businesses. Recent improvements were funded by a Canada 150 grant. For humans, there is also a model airplane clubhouse with airstrip.

Beachway, 1100 Lakeshore Road: this park includes 6.8 acres of park space, 2 km of lakeside trails, and a beautiful beach. The concession stand and universal changeroom are closed for renovations for 2020. Limited parking is available.

Brant Hills Park, 2300 Duncaster Drive: here, there are two lined courts for tennis and pickleball*, though players should bring their own nets.

Burloak Waterfront Park, 5420 Lakeshore Road East: includes over 800 m of shoreline and is a trailhead for the Waterfront Trail.

Central Park, 2299 New Street: includes the Central Park Labyrinth across from the Rotary Youth Centre. This is one of the first accessible labyrinths in Canada. Limited parking is available.

City View Park, 2500 Kerns Road: this is the city’s largest park, 165 acres in size, and includes a playground and nature trails.

Hidden Valley Park, 1137 Hidden Valley Road: this park in Aldershot features nature trails and a seasonal splash pad. Limited parking is available.

Ireland Park, 2315 Headon Forest Drive: this park features a tennis court and a track.

Kerncliff Park, 2198 Kerns Road: this park in Tyandaga was once a quarry and is part of the Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System. This system is the last intact ecological connection between Lake Ontario wetlands and the Niagara Escarpment. The Cootes to Escarpment EcoPark System is a collaboration between government and non-profit organizations who own or manage almost 4700 acres of natural lands at the western end of Lake Ontario, and are working together to protect, connect, and restore the natural lands. To learn more, visit cootestoescarpmentpark.ca/about us.

Kilbride Park, 2175 Blessington Street: this park in Kilbride includes tennis courts and a 33’ by 84’ skateboard area, including a half-circuit concrete pump track.

LaSalle Park, 50 North Shore Boulevard East: this park in Aldershot includes a pavilion, first built in 1917 and rebuilt in 1997 after a fire destroyed the original, and a banquet centre. The park’s 57 acres of lakefront property include a boat launch ramp, marina, bocce ball court, seasonal wading pool and splash pad.

Lowville Park, 6207 Lowville Park Road: this park in Lowville is currently open only to pedestrians and cyclists, who can enjoy the nature trails and suspended iron bridge. The parking lot is closed until December 2020 for construction.

Maple Park, 750 Maple Avenue: facilities here include a skateboard area. Parking is available.

Millcroft Park, 4250 Millcroft Park Drive: this park features a tennis court, seasonal washrooms and splash pad.

Mountainside Park, 2205 Mount Forest Drive: this park features an outdoor pool and splash pad, a skateboard park, basketball court, and nature trails.

Nelson Park, 4183 New Street: this park features a basketball court, BMX park, cycling track, and a skateboard park.

Norton Community Park, 3035 Tim Dobbie Drive: located across from the Haber Community Centre in Alton, the park includes a basketball court, skateboard park, and splash pad for humans, and leash-free area for dogs.

Optimist Park, 2131 Prospect Street: this park features tennis courts and a basketball court.

Orchard Community Park, 2255 Sutton Drive: located in the Orchard community, this park features a basketball court, splash pad, skateboard area, and trails.

Paletta Lakefront Park, 4280 Lakeshore Road: open from 8 am to 11 pm, this is a unique 14-acre waterfront park featuring formal gardens and a mansion dating to 1930 and a Discovery Trail through wetlands with two suspended iron bridges. Limited parking is available.

Palmer Park, 3409 Palmer Drive: this neighbourhood park beside Lester B. Pearson High School features tennis courts and a basketball court.

Roly Bird Park, 2203 Industrial Street: this park has a leash-free dog area.

Sheldon Park, 5320 Riverside Drive: this park has a basketball court and paths for cycling and walking.

Spencer Smith Park, 1400 Lakeshore Road: this downtown Burlington park includes a wide promenade that is comfortable for walking, cycling or rollerblading; Discovery Landing, a beautiful glass-walled building where you can look out over the lake; the Rotary Centennial Pond, offering skating in the winter months and model boat sailing in the summer; the Dofasco Waterjet Plaza; and the Brant Street Pier. The beacon on the pier is lit each night in colours representing a variety of events and requests. The park’s land was originally part of a parcel granted to the Mohawk leader Joseph Brant, in recognition of his service to the British Crown during the American Revolution. The park is named in honour of Spencer Smith, a former president of the Burlington Horticultural Society.

When you visit the park, look for the 1973 Lady of the Lake bronze sculpture, created by Almuth Lutkenhaus as part of Burlington’s Centennial Fountain, built by R.J. Van Seters Co. Ltd. In the spring, you can enjoy the cherry blossom (sakura in Japanese) path, honouring the city’s twinning with Itabashi, Japan. There is also a granite and stone sofa in the park named Louise, a gift from Burlington’s twin city Apeldoorn, the Netherlands.

Sycamore Park, 3110 Parkgate Crescent: this park features tennis/pickleball courts and is located next to Dr. Charles Best Public School.

Tansley Woods Park, 4100 Kilmer Drive: this park features three dedicated pickleball courts and the Itabashi Bridge, a suspended iron bridge given to Burlington as a gift from our twin city, Itabashi, Japan. Parking is available.

Taywood Park, 4357 Millcroft Park Drive: this park features a basketball court and walking/biking trails.

Wellington Park, 1371 Baldwin Street: located near Central High School in downtown Burlington, this park features an outdoor track.

*What is pickleball? It’s a fast-paced, strategic, and social game played in singles or doubles, on a court similar in size to a badminton court. Players use a paddle and wiffle ball, and play across a net a bit lower than a tennis net. It’s a great sport, fun for all ages, and can be played indoors or outdoors. The list above only notes the outdoor locations in Burlington’s parks where you can find courts marked for pickleball.

Leash-free areas

Dogs are allowed off-leash in designated leash-free areas. Be aware that:

  • Dogs need to wear their current license tag on their collar and have up-to-date vaccinations
  • You are responsible for the actions of your dog: stay with your dog and ensure you have control of your dog at all times
  • You may have a maximum of two dogs off-leash at one time
  • Leave your toys at home and pick up and dispose of your dog’s waste
  • Pit bulls must be muzzled and leashed at all times