Ottawa Parks

Ottawa is a city full of great parks. Here are a few good ones for kids:

St Luke’s Park: Operated by the Jack Purcell Community Centre, this is one of the cleanest and safest closed-in parks in the downtown area. Various play structures include swings, basketball nets, and a summer pool. The Bethell Field House was once a field hospital in the 1920s. (Elgin at Frank Streets, behind the Second Cup)

Dundonald Park: Home of the Centretown Movies (where a screen is set up in the park for summer showings of popular films), the small play structure and sandpit are enclosed to keep the small kids in and the bigger kids out. Dundonald is also known as “beer park” in some circles, but don’t let that deter you from bringing your kids here; it gets this nickname by virtue of being situated across the street from the Beer Store. Look for the plaques directly across from the store dedicated to Russian file clerk Igor Gouzenko, who lived in the apartment building across the street at 511 Somerset Street West. (Somerset West at Bay Streets)

Strathcona Park: This park is filled with huge open spaces and various play structures. The imposing fountain at the top of the hill was presented to the City of Ottawa in 1909 by Donald Smith, a.k.a. Baron Strathcona, statesman, railway builder, and businessman, who drove the last spike in the railway that crossed the country. (Laurier Avenue East at Range Road, Sandy Hill)

Strathcona Park: Don’t let the name repeated from above fool you; this is a completely separate park in the Glebe. There aren’t any playgrounds here, but some lovely trees to run around under. (Bank Street at Strathcona Avenue)

Andrew Haydon Park:
Located on the shores of the Ottawa River in the west end of the city, this park is named after a former mayor of the City of Nepean. It features a lovely view of Britannia Bay and includes a picnic area, artificial lake, concession stands, washrooms, and a yacht club. Swimming is not recommended. (Holly Acres Road and Carling Avenue)