Check out the best our capital has to offer by swinging, climbing and sliding at one of these Ottawa playgrounds.
Canada’s capital is a treasure trove of playgrounds for little ones to explore. We’ve rounded up some of our faves based on your suggestions.
Photo: Trish Stolte1. Westboro Kiwanis Park Previously known as Cole Park, this Ottawa playground is popular among big kids for its infinity Mobius climber, a circular monkey bar that rises and dips, creating a thrilling obstacle challenge. Attached to the Dovercourt Recreation Centre, the park features swings for toddlers, big kids and children with special needs. The wading pool—decorated with a new theme every year—is a popular summer attraction. Snack machines (packed with healthy granola bars, fruit snacks, water and juice), a full-service pay-as-you-go café (open from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.), washrooms and drinking fountains are located on the main floor of the rec centre. Parking is free. Open year-round.
Go play: 411 Dovercourt Ave., Ottawa 613-798-8950 dovercourt.org
Photo: Wikimedia Commons2. Brewer Park Sometimes simple is best, and that’s what Ottawa’s popular Brewer Park has to offer. This simple but totally lovable playground boasts four brightly coloured climbers that await eager adventurers. A climbable fire truck and splash pad appeal to the littler crowd.
Go play: 100 Brewer Way, Ottawa 613-247-4938 ottawa.ca
Photo: Mark Jago3. Andrew Haydon Park Boasting beautiful views of the Ottawa River, this playground’s wooden apparatus is fun to climb on, but its real draw is the DIY splash pad/mud zone. Instead of having water spray automatically, children can flip a switch to get a shot of water to travel through tubes and wheels. What to do with a sandy play lot and a manual water tap? Why, make mud pies, of course! Just don’t forget to bring a change of clothes. If a less sandy day is on the agenda, the park has several other play structures, including an adorable climbable boat that’s perfect for your tiny tot.
Go play: 3127 Carling Ave., Ottawa ottawa.ca
Photo: City of Ottawa4. Regatta Park If you’re looking for a low-key kind of play day, check out this cute community centre spread. The playground has a climbable web of rope for the adventurous child and a basic stairs-and-slide apparatus for the keep-it-simple crowd. Climbable logs and boulders offer natural elements. An adjacent splash pad is a great way to cool off after a busy day of play.
Go play: 150 Pennant Ave., Ottawa hmbca.ca
Photo: Kiwanis Club of Orleans5. Millennium Sports Park Kids love playing, and parents love when their children are learning, right? At Millennium Sports Park, you can do both. With two giant play structures—one is a long wooden pirate ship and the other is a ginormous replica of the Parliament Buildings—it’s fun to teach your little ones about Canada’s capital. The climb to the tippy top of the giant structure is gradual, but kids will still feel accomplished when they reach the top. And that long, fast “swish” as they go down the curved tube slide? Totally worth the trek.
Go play: 100 Millennium Blvd., Orleans ottawa.ca
Photo: City of Ottawa6. Lansdowne Park Children’s Play Area If you’re feeling fancy, get your family to the very European Lansdowne Park. Here, you can wander through shops, stop and smell the flowers, have a picnic and shoot some hoops. Oh yeah, and take your kids to an amazing, modern, totally accessible playground that will inspire even the most seasoned jungle-gym climber. Be sure to check out the massive rope structure that gets quite intricate!
Go play: 1015 Bank St., Ottawa 613-580-2595 lansdownepark.ca
Read more: 4 best indoor playgrounds in Ottawa 5 best indoor playgrounds in Vancouver 9 great Toronto playgrounds
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Amy is a freelance writer and editor based in Toronto, Ontario. Her work can also be found in publications like Chatelaine, Toronto Life and The Globe and Mail.