Community Gardens

Welcome to Orillia Community Gardens!

Community Gardens - City of Orillia - 2024

• In 2024, community gardens were installed at Hillcrest Park and York Street Park.
• Garden Plots will be available for booking at Orillia's Community Gardens beginning March 31, 2025 for the 2025 growing season. Information will be available on this site to secure plots for 2025.
• Plots may be booked for a growing season by individuals, families, or groups.
• Each plot is a 12’ x 4’ raised planter in a sunny location that is perfect for growing vegetables and includes a convenient water source.
• Gardeners are expected to tend to the planting, growing, and harvesting of their own vegetables and garden plots and also to participate in bi-weekly clean up events that consist of general weeding and tidying of the gardens areas.
• Come out and meet your neighbours and grow some vegetables this season.
• To reserve a plot, please contact John McMullen, Manager of Park Planning and Development, by telephone at 705-325-2060.

Bee City Designation

The City of Orillia is an official Bee City, a designation provided by Bee City Canada.  The City has committed to providing sustainable habitats for pollinators.

The City actively supports pollinators through the maintenance of over 70 annual and perennial gardens, 2 community gardens with pollinator species planted throughout, 2 butterfly gardens, and over 140 flowering hanging baskets located in the downtown.

The City is committed to the creation of new gardens in parks, recreation centres, parking lots, and other public spaces with the goal of improving pollinator habitats.

For more information on how to get involved please contact the Community Services Department at 705-329-7250 or by e-mail at parks@orillia.ca.

High Street Park Community Garden

The High Street Park community garden was co-created by the Orillia Community Gardens, the Orillia Youth Centre, and the City of Orillia in the spring of 2011. The garden is focused on community involvement, this means the gardeners who plant each year are responsible for the planting, weeding and general maintenance of the garden.

2024/25 High Street Park Garden Renovation

Due to construction at the Brian Orser Arena near the High Street Community Garden, as well as a drop in gardening involvement and interest, the High Street Community Garden is set to be restructured and renovated in 2024/25. The City's priority is to set the garden up for success and efficiently for years to come.

Lakehead Community Garden

Lakehead University has dedicated Allotment gardens, with it being on a first come first serve basis. There are currently a limited number of small, exclusive- use vegetable garden spaces for persons interested in tending to their own vegetable garden. 

What are Allotment Gardens?

Allotment gardens are a type of community gardening where individuals or groups rent individual garden plots on a seasonal basis to grow food. Plots are maintained by their assigned gardeners. Allotment gardens work well for individuals and groups with varying schedules and diverse views on gardening.

Why be Involved with Community Gardening?

There are many benefits for participating in a community garden. These benefits include:

• Increased access to fresh, healthy and affordable food!
• Healthy outdoor physical activity
• Building a sense of community and making new friends
• Learning new skills (ex. Composting, natural pest deterrents)
• Beautifying neighbourhoods
• Encouraging the growth of green spaces
• Encouraging information sharing between experts and new comers

How the City Supports Community Gardens

• Supply of planting area
• Maintenance of surrounding trees and park space related to grass cutting, pruning & horticultural maintenance.
• Supply of mulch