Earl Bales Park
4169 Bathurst St, North York, ON M3H 3P7
- 127 acres with paved trails
- Off-leash dog area (fenced)
- Splash pad & sensory garden
- Outdoor amphitheatre
- Winter ski & snowboard hill
- Picnic sites & fire pits
Best Parks in North York
Discover 11 free parks across North York with trails, playgrounds, gardens, and community spaces. From 127-acre Earl Bales to intimate neighbourhood parks, explore the green heart of our community.
Quick Answer
- Largest parks: Downsview (291 acres), G. Ross Lord (190+ acres), Earl Bales (127 acres), Sunnybrook
- Best for dogs: Earl Bales Park, G. Ross Lord Park (both have fenced off-leash areas)
- Best splash pads: Earl Bales Park, Oriole Park / Neshama Playground
- Botanical gardens: Edwards Gardens with formal gardens and trails
- Community hub: Mel Lastman Square for civic events and gathering
- All are completely free and open dawn to dusk
What's New in North York Parks (2026)
North York's green spaces keep evolving. Here's what changed for the 2026 season, drawn from City of Toronto project pages and park sources.
- Wigmore Park (106 Wigmore Dr) — a community-designed new playground and splash pad is under construction, the park's biggest upgrade in years. Expect temporary fencing around the play area while work wraps up.
- Downsview Lands (YZD) — Toronto City Council has approved the first phase of the $30B redevelopment of the former Downsview Airport. The plan preserves roughly 75 acres of green and open space; infrastructure work is active in 2026, so some access points near Downsview Park may shift.
- Edwards Gardens / Wilket Creek — some ravine paths have intermittent closures for construction. Check conditions before you go if you're planning the full Wilket Creek loop.
- Free summer concerts are back — see the lineup below; both Edwards Gardens and Mel Lastman Square run no-cost programming July through August.
Free Summer Events in North York Parks (2026)
Every event below is free to attend. Most run on select dates from late June through August — bring your own chair for the concert series.
| Event | Where | When |
|---|---|---|
| Edwards Summer Music Series | Toronto Botanical Garden / Edwards Gardens (777 Lawrence Ave E) | Select dates, July–August 2026 |
| Concerts in the Park | Mel Lastman Square (5100 Yonge St) | Select Wednesdays, June–August 2026 |
| Movies Under the Stars | Downsview Park (south end, 70 Canuck Ave) | Summer 2026 |
| Toronto Outdoor Picture Show | Various Toronto parks | June 26 – August 23, 2026 |
Large Parks (100+ acres)
Downsview Park
35 Carl Hall Rd, Toronto, ON M3K 2C5
- 291 acres (Canada's only national urban park)
- Aviation-themed playground
- Farmers market & events venue
- Basketball court
- Multiple trails
- Sharing circle for community gatherings
G. Ross Lord Park
4801 Dufferin St, North York, ON M3H 5T3
- 190+ acres in West Don River valley
- 4+ km of scenic trails
- Off-leash dog area (fenced)
- 2 cricket pitches & 3 soccer fields
- Picnic sites & fire pit
- Flood-control parkland
Sunnybrook Park
1132 Leslie St, Toronto, ON M3C 1M2
- Large park adjacent to Edwards Gardens
- Don Valley Trail access (20+ km)
- Equestrian centre
- Sports fields & picnic areas
- Mixed-use trails
- Great for hiking & cycling
Botanical Gardens
Edwards Gardens
777 Lawrence Ave E, North York, ON M3C 1P2
- Formal botanical garden
- Rose garden & rock garden
- Ravine creek trails
- Toronto Botanical Garden on-site
- Wilket Creek Trail access
- Hours: Mon–Fri 9am–5pm, Sat–Sun 10am–4pm
Community & Neighbourhood Parks
Big Bear Park (Crosstown Park South)
NW corner of Eglinton Ave E & Don Mills Rd, Toronto, ON
- 5,670 kg bronze bear sculpture by Toronto artist Dean Drever
- Multi-level playground with tube slides
- Shaded seating, pedestrian paths & horticultural beds
- Open lawn for informal play
- Opened November 2025
- Free access, dawn to dusk
Bayview Village Park
Bayview Ave & Park Home Ave, North York, ON M2K
- Community gathering space
- Open lawns & walking paths
- Seating & benches
- Central to Bayview Village neighbourhood
- Dawn to dusk access
Oriole Park / Neshama Playground
Yonge St & Orchard View Blvd, Toronto, ON M4S
- Splash pad with push-button fountains
- Water bottle fill station
- Rubberized play floor
- Multiple play structures
- Minutes from Davisville subway
- Typical summer hours (May–Labour Day)
Hendon Park
Hendon Ave & Yonge St, North York, ON M2M
- Neighbourhood park
- Open green space
- Benches & seating
- Local gathering space
- Free access, dawn to dusk
Gwendolen Park
Sheppard Ave W area, North York, ON
- Neighbourhood park
- Open green space
- Walking paths
- Community access
- Free, dawn to dusk
Cummer Park
823 Cummer Ave, North York, ON
- 4 hectares of recreation space
- Lit ball diamond
- Sports facilities
- Free public access
- Evening programming available
Civic Gathering Spaces
Mel Lastman Square
5100 Yonge St, North York, ON M2N 5V7
- Outdoor civic plaza
- Adjacent to North York Civic Centre
- Public events & gatherings
- Water feature & fountain
- Seating areas
- Community hub, open daily
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best large parks in North York?
The best large parks are Earl Bales Park (127 acres, 4169 Bathurst St) with ski hill and splash pad, Downsview Park (291 acres, 35 Carl Hall Rd) with aviation playground, G. Ross Lord Park (190+ acres, 4801 Dufferin St) with 4+ km trails, and Sunnybrook Park (1132 Leslie St) with equestrian centre. All are free and open dawn to dusk.
Which North York parks have off-leash dog areas?
Earl Bales Park (4169 Bathurst St) and G. Ross Lord Park (4801 Dufferin St) both have fenced off-leash dog areas. Both parks are free and open dawn to dusk year-round, making them excellent for dog owners.
Where are the best splash pads in North York?
The best splash pads in North York are at Earl Bales Park (4169 Bathurst St) with sensory garden features, and Oriole Park / Neshama Playground (Yonge & Orchard View Blvd) with push-button fountains and water bottle fill stations. Both are free and typically operate late May to Labour Day.
Are there botanical gardens or gardens in North York?
Yes. Edwards Gardens (777 Lawrence Ave E, North York) is a formal botanical garden with rose gardens, rock gardens, and ravine creek access. Admission is free. Hours are Mon–Fri 9am–5pm and Sat–Sun 10am–4pm. The Toronto Botanical Garden is on-site with some paid events.
What parks have picnic areas and fire pits in North York?
Earl Bales Park (4169 Bathurst St) and G. Ross Lord Park (4801 Dufferin St) both have picnic sites and fire pits available. Picnic areas are free and open dawn to dusk. Reservations may be required for larger groups.
Are all North York parks free to visit?
Yes. All 11 parks in this guide are completely free to visit. Hours are generally dawn to dusk, year-round. Edwards Gardens' Toronto Botanical Garden has some paid events, but the gardens themselves are free to walk.
What are the best parks for community activities in North York?
Downsview Park (35 Carl Hall Rd) hosts farmers markets and community events. Mel Lastman Square (5100 Yonge St) is the civic gathering space with public events and water features. G. Ross Lord Park has sports facilities including cricket pitches and soccer fields. All offer free public access.
What free summer events happen in North York parks in 2026?
Several free outdoor programs run through summer 2026: the Edwards Summer Music Series at Toronto Botanical Garden / Edwards Gardens (777 Lawrence Ave E) on select July–August dates, Concerts in the Park at Mel Lastman Square (5100 Yonge St) on select Wednesdays from June to August, Movies Under the Stars at the south end of Downsview Park (70 Canuck Ave), and the Toronto Outdoor Picture Show in various parks from June 26 to August 23. Bring your own chair for the concert series.
Are any North York parks under construction or being upgraded in 2026?
Yes. Wigmore Park (106 Wigmore Dr) is getting a new community-designed playground and splash pad, so expect temporary fencing around the play area. Near Downsview Park, infrastructure work for the Downsview Lands (YZD) redevelopment is active and may shift some access points, though about 75 acres of green space is preserved in the plan. Edwards Gardens / Wilket Creek has intermittent ravine path closures for construction — check conditions before a full-loop visit.
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Last updated: June 21, 2026 with 2026 park upgrades, summer event programming, and construction notes from City of Toronto sources.