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Orillia's Parks
The City of Orillia is well known and well regarded for its impressive parks. From tranquil waterfront spaces, fun playgrounds, and splash pads to beautifully manicured lawns and flower gardens, these public spaces are designed to enhance and complement the natural beauty of our community. The City's parks are designated under four categories: Community Parks, Neighbourhood Parks, Parkettes, and Naturalized Space. For information on booking a park including rental rates, please visit the Booking a Facility or Park page.
Parks/Public Washrooms
Public Washrooms - Locations and Information
By-Law Amendment: Barbecues in City Parks
Use of charcoal barbecues is banned in City parks. This update aligns City practices with those of Ontario provincial parks, which restrict solid fuel use but allow controlled portable appliances with shut-off valves. Barbecues powered by portable gas, propane, or naphtha stoves or barbecues equipped with a fuel source and a functional control valve, are still permitted in parks. This by-law is governed by Chapter 785 of the Municipal Code with a maximum fine of $5,000. For more information, please call 705-326-4585.
Barbecues in City Parks
Use of charcoal barbecues is banned in City parks. This update aligns City practices with those of Ontario provincial parks, which restrict solid fuel use but allow controlled portable appliances with shut-off valves. Barbecues powered by portable gas, propane, or naphtha stoves or barbecues equipped with a fuel source and a functional control valve, are still permitted in parks. This by-law is governed by Chapter 785 of the Municipal Code with a maximum fine of $5,000. For more information, please call 705-326-4585.
J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park Improvements
Status Update: August 28, 2020 - As part of the implementation of the J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park Design Plan Update, completed in 2016, a vehicular Couchiching Point Road Egress, planned to accommodate one-way exit traffic and emergency vehicles, is being constructed. The new driveway will be gated at Couchiching Point Road and will not be open to the public. The driveway has been designed to carry one way traffic exiting from the park and will be used for such purposes on a very limited basis. The new egress driveway will also act as a secondary pedestrian trail into the centre of the park/Barnfield Point Recreation Centre.
Additionally, under the same contract the City is undertaking to complete drainage improvements to the Mariposa camping area near the shoreline of Portage Bay. All work is anticipated to be completed by early September 2020.
Staff Responsibilities
The responsibilities of the City Park staff in the Environmental and Infrastructure Services Department are listed below.
- Maintain 37 parks
- Maintain sports fields including ball diamonds, soccer pitches, tennis courts, volleyball courts, and horseshoe pitches
- Maintain and manage flower planters, municipal flower beds, and hanging baskets in downtown area
- Maintain turf areas on City properties
- Plant and maintain trees and shrubs throughout park system
- Maintain and manage Lightfoot Trail System
- Maintain boat launches and docks
- Maintain Port of Orillia breakwall
- Inspect and maintain Skateboard Park
- Clean up parks in spring and fall
- Collect litter
- Inspect for vandalism
- Inspect and maintain play apparatus
- Maintain outdoor rinks
- Liaise with various special event operators and community organizations
Park Planning and Design Plans
1. J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park Design Update
2. J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park Building Assessment
3. Mariposa Folk Festival and Celebration Park
4. Mariposa Folk Festival Operations
5. J.B. Tudhope Memorial Park Design Plan Update
Please Don't Feed The Birds!
The City of Orillia is working to improve beach water quality and our waterfront parks. You can help! Please don't feed the birds (ducks, gulls, geese or swans)
- Bird droppings can be a potential health hazard
- Feeding can attract many birds, resulting in excessive bird droppings in the sand, grass and water
- Excessive bird droppings reduces water quality
- Birds fed by hand lose their fear of humans and can become aggressive
- Birds that feed on scraps do not eat a natural diet and can become less healthy or dependent on people
- Birds that receive scraps tend to stay in their winter habitat longer and not migrate south.
Please dispose of food scraps in waste containers provided.
