Destination Parks
Many of the town's destination parks provide a wonderful setting for special events.
If you are planning a special event, ceremony or photography opportunities, a permit may be required. Please visit the Event Planning page for permit information.
Search the Destination Parks map for location details.
2340 Ontario Street
Size: 7.78 hectares (19.22 acres)
Classification: Community Park
Ward 1
A picturesque waterfront park located on Ontario Street below Lakeshore Road. The Bronte Butterfly Gazebo is an ideal spot for a wedding ceremony or photography.
Other amenities:
- 212 parking spaces
- Washroom facility
- Water feature
1426 Lakeshore Road West
Size: 9.6 hectares (23.72 acres)
Classification: Community Park
Ward 2
Coronation Park is a beautiful park situated on the shore of Lake Ontario. It is located on Lakeshore Road west of Fourth Line and east of Third Line.
Coronation Park features five large designated picnic areas that are permitted through the town, including a covered/shelter area. Each picnic area comes equipped with picnic tables.
Other amenities:
- Splash pad
- two beach volleyball courts
- Playgrounds
- Stage
- 221 parking spaces
- Washrooms
- Snack bar facility
8 Navy Street
Size: 1.38 hectares (3.41 acres)
Classification: Community Park
Ward 2
The Erchless Estate gardens have been carefully restored to their historic appearance from photographs taken in the early 1900s. A rock garden that was originally designed and built for Emelda Beeler Chisholm in the 1920s continues to be enjoyed by visitors today.
Visitors can walk the grounds and explore many points of historical interest while enjoying lakeside views.
The grounds are beautifully maintained by our Parks and Open Space department. Erchless is a popular site for special occasion and wedding photography (permit required). Parking is limited to 12 spaces.
The Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate is located on the grounds of Erchless Estate. Visit the Oakville Museum page.
1306 Lakeshore Road East
Size: 4.39 hectares (10.85 acres)
Classification: Community Park
Ward 3
Gairloch Gardens, consisting of a park and gallery in an old homestead, is located south of Lakeshore Road near Morrison Road. The gallery is a heritage home on the estate of the late James Gairdner who, in 1971, left his estate to the Town of Oakville.
The gardens boast extensive rose gardens and 15,000 annuals that bloom between June and September. Gairloch Gardens is a popular destination for special occasion and wedding photography (permit required). Parking is limited to 35 spaces.
144 Front St.
Size: 1.2 hectares (2.97 acres)
Classification: Neighbourhood Park
Ward 2
Lakeside Park is found along the shore of Lake Ontario in downtown Oakville. The park is the site of two historic buildings – The Old Post Office and the Thomas House – and is across the street from the Oakville Museum at Erchless Estate.
When you visit you can enjoy a walk along the pathways that form part of the Homecoming Trail.
Rentals are not permitted at Lakeside Park.
Other amenities:
- Bandstand
- Playground
- Washroom facilities
1227 Lions Valley Rd
Size: 11.47 hectares (23.34 acres)
Classification: Major Valley
Ward 5
The Parks and Open Space department, in partnership with Halton Region recently completed the rehabilitation of Lions Valley Park. Visitors will enjoy the new pedestrian bridge over Sixteen Mile Creek, a newly constructed trail system from Fourth Line to the pedestrian bridge, landscaping and an asphalt-paved parking area.
Enjoy the walking trails and lookouts from the new bridges on Dundas Street. Learn more about the history of Lions Valley Park and Sixteen Mile Creek Trail by visiting the Heritage Trails section of our website.
Other amenities :
- Parking
- Picnic areas
- Playground
- Parking restrictions
Please visit our Service Disruptions page for details about parking limitations at Lions Valley Park during a Halton Region construction project.
1150 Nottinghill Gate
Size: 4.29 hectares (10.6 acres)
Classification: Neighbourhood Park
Ward 4
Nottinghill Park is located on Nottinghill Gate in Glen Abbey. The park features four perennial flower beds, in bloom from April to October, including an ornamental grass collection and 7,500 annuals. This is a popular destination for special occasion and wedding photography where a permit is not required. If you are planning a special event a permit is required.
Other amenities:
- Playground
- Softball diamond
- Two mini soccer fields
- 27 parking spaces
3307 Lakeshore Road West
Size: 20.61 hectares (50.93 acres)
Classification: Community Park
Ward 1
Located in southwest Oakville, Shell Park boasts more than 500 blooming roses between June and September and 10,000 annuals in flower from May to September. Gardening enthusiasts will enjoy the demonstration garden featuring new plant varieties grown from trial seeds provided by All-America Selection (AAS).
In the summer of 2017, horticultural staff added herbs and vegetables including radishes, kales, beans, strawberries, and mini pumpkins. Vegetables are being donated to the Kerr Street Ministries. This vegetable garden features two new structures to demonstrate how to effectively garden in small spaces.
Other amenities:
- Community garden plots
- Off-leash dog park
- Playground
- Skateboard park
- Four soccer fields
- Field house
- Washroom facility
- 216 parking spaces
3450 Lakeshore Road West
Size: 2.76 hectares (6.82 acres)
Classification: Community Park
Ward 1
A picturesque waterfront park located on Lakeshore Road. South Shell Waterfront Park, in conjunction with Shell Park, Bronte Woods and Burloak Woods north of Lakeshore Road is considered by many local birders to be the best migrant stopover site in the greater Hamilton area. Dozens of different species have been recorded here, including a number of species at risk.
Other amenities:
- Interpretive signs
- Naturalized passive parkland
- 31 parking spaces
- Playground
- Shade structure
- Waterfront picnic
- Waterfront trail
- Washroom facilities
Migratory birds
Every year, billions of birds migrate from their summer homes in Canada to warmer southern climates and back again the following year. Large bodies of water, such as the Great Lakes, are geographic barriers to migration because of their large size. This results in birds ‘piling up’ along the lakeshore as they prepare to cross Lake Ontario.
Shoreline habitats such as the one at South Shell Waterfront Park are critically important areas where migrants rest and refuel so that they can continue their journeys. Diverse and relatively dense habitat provides cover from predators and a safe place for the birds to rest and offer a source of food.
To help protect migratory birds:
- Keep cats indoors and dogs on a leash; even non-lethal encounters cause stress and interfere with feeding
- Naturalize your property with native plants
- Avoid the use of invasive species
- Learn more about ways to make your home ‘bird friendly’, such as optimal placement of bird feeders to avoid bird-window collisions
- Support organizations that protect habitat for birds and other wildlife
- Join a local naturalists’ club, report your sightings and contribute to the conservation of birds
170 Wilson Street
Size: 0.68 hectares (1.68 acres)
Classification: Neighbourhood Park
Ward 2
Our Park Planning and Development team won an ‘Award of Merit’ for the design and installation of Westwood Park.
The redevelopment of the park included:
- Boulevard upgrades along Kerr and Wilson streets
- Installation of walkways, decorative walls, trees and shrubs
- Phase 2 included a custom-designed metal gazebo and trellis feature, lighting, irrigation, completion of the central plaza area, water feature and landscaping.
- Westwood Park is a beautiful site for photography (permit not required).