Parks & Outdoor Spaces

This large playground park is a popular gathering place for families in the Broadway neighbourhood. The playground includes climbing structures and slides, along with benches and picnic tables for general use. The park is another example of the success of the City's Volunteer in Parks program.

Amenities:

• Community park
• Playground
• Possibility for bouncy castle

Address:
5946 Broadway Rd

Located in Nanaimo's south end, trails are found around both the Upper Lake (0.9 kilometres) and Lower Lake (1.2 kilometres).

Amenities:

• Beach access
• Bike friendly
• Community park
• Dog off leash area
• Fishing
• Free parking
• interpretative content
• Natural wilderness trail
• Picnic tables
• Shelter
• Swimming
• Trail
• Washrooms

Address:
645 Wakesiah Ave

This large playground park includes areas for both toddlers and older children. It features a grassy space with picnic tables and paved pathways. Located at the entrance to the Country Hills subdivision, it is a popular gathering place for local residents. The park terrain is very hilly.

Amenities:

• Drinking fountain
• Playground
• Picnic area

Address:
1899 White Blossom Way

This neighbourhood park features landscaping designed to encourage community gathering and play for all ages. Local residents helped install park equipment through the Volunteers in Parks program in 1995. The park includes benches and is centrally located within the subdivision.

Amenities:

• Benches
• Community park
• Playground
• Possibility for bouncy castle with approval

Address:
5957 Cathedral Cr

Named after Nanaimo-born jazz singer Diana Krall, this plaza is a public open space connected to the Nanaimo Public Library.

Amenities:

• Electricity
• Paid parking

Address:
125 Front St

This lakeside park offers walking trails, wildlife viewing, a playground, fitness circuit, and BMX track. There is an accessible fishing float. Gas-powered boating is not permitted; however, small electric motors and paddling are allowed. A large field near the parking lot is designated as an official dog off leash area.

Amenities:

• Community park
• Dog off leash area
• Fishing
• Interpretive content
• Kayaking
• Pedestrain routes
• Picnic area
• Playground
• Portable washrooms
• Tennis
• Trail

Address:
2430 Black Franks Dr

Acquired in 1980, this neighbourhood park includes a playground with swings, a slide, and a climbing structure, as well as a play field, hard surface court, paved and natural trails, and a picnic area. The park was renamed Groveland Gyro Park in 2014.

Amenities:

• Bike Friendly
• Bouncy castle approved

• Drinking fountain
• Grass field
• Picnic area
• Playground
• Soccer
• Sport court
• Sports field

Address:
6273 Groveland Dr

This 3.7-acre neighbourhood park features a playground, looping trails, and a detention pond. It is used for passive recreation such as dog walking, jogging, and walking. The park and surrounding subdivision are named after the many English hawthorn bushes in the area. The park has an active volunteer group and has been improved through the City’s Partner in Parks (PIP) Program.

Amenities:

• Drinking fountian
• Grass fields
• Pedestrain routes
• Picnic area
• Playground
• Sport court
• Trail
• Possibility for bouncy castle

Address:
638 Sarum Rise Way

This is a bookable outdoor park space located at Jack Point / Biggs Park, suitable for small gatherings and recreational use.

Amenities:

• Community park

Address:
655 Jackson Road

Kinsmen Park is located at the south end of Departure Bay (Kin Beach). It is a great spot for an afternoon outing, featuring a grassy area with picnic tables and benches overlooking both the beach and playground. Departure Bay Beach is ideal for beachcombing year-round, and during the summer months, a designated unpatrolled swimming area is available. The playground within the park is fenced.

Amenities:

• Beach access
• Community park
• Drinking fountain
• Pedestrian routes
• Picnic area
• Playground
• Washrooms

Address:
2730 Departure Bay Rd

Linley Valley Cottle Lake Park is a wilderness park located between Departure Bay and Hammond Bay. The network of trails winds through forested areas, valleys, open fields, and rocky knolls. The City-managed sections include groomed trails and maintained boardwalks.

Amenities:

• Natural wilderness trail
• Pedestrian routes
• picnic area

Address:
3669 Rock City Rd

Loudon Park and Walkway is a popular destination year-round for swimming, paddling sports, walking, and fishing. On warm summer days, the sandy beach and swimming float make it a great place to relax. The walking trail follows the shoreline between Norwell Drive and 101st Street. While generally gentle, some sections are uneven.

The park is also home to the Nanaimo Canoe & Kayak Club and the Nanaimo Rowing Club.

Amenities:

• Community park
• Dock
• Fishing
• Free parking
• Kayaking
• Pedestrian routes
• Picnic area
• Swimming
• Trail
• Washrooms

Address:
4295 Victoria Ave

Maffeo Sutton Park is Nanaimo’s signature waterfront park along the Harbour Front Walkway. It is a major destination for walking, recreation, and community events throughout the year.

Mansfield Park is a large neighbourhood park that includes a playfield, playground, and water park feature. It is a well-used space and popular for children's sports programs. The park underwent significant upgrades in spring 2013.

Amenities:

• Bouncy castle permitted
• Drinking fountain
• Free parking
• Pedestrian routes
• Picnic shelter
• Playground
• Sports field
• Sports court
• Washrooms
• Water park

Address:
850 Cadogan St

McGregor Park is part of the Nanaimo Harbour Front Walkway and is located directly across from the Port Theatre. The park includes a small plaza at Front Street that is often used as a temporary public art site. The waterfront trail is fully accessible and a popular destination year-round.

Amenities:

• Community park
• Pedestrain routes

Address:
108 Front St

Neck Point Park features approximately 3 kilometres of scenic trails with a mix of flat paths and stairs. Beach access is available from the main parking lot, and the park is a popular location for walking, nature viewing, and group gatherings. Maximum 50 people for group bookings.

Common Amenities:

• Beach access
• Community park
• Diving
• Drinking fountain
• Fishing
• Free parking
• Interpretive content
• Kayaking
• Pedestrian routes
• Picnic area
• Swimming
• Viewing area
• Washrooms
• Wedding ceremony location

Address:
1055 Morningside Dr

Northfield Nature Park is a network of trails connecting a series of subdivisions running parallel to the Parkway Highway (Highway 1). The trails are popular with residents for dog walking and trail riding. Paths are not groomed. This is not a designated dog off leash area. The park is also known as Starlight Trail Nature Park.

Amenities:

• Dog off leash area
• Pedestrian routes
• Picnic area
• Washrooms

Address:
2667 Starlight Tr

Pipers Park is a 1.1-acre green space located above Front Street and adjacent to the Vancouver Island Conference Centre. The park features several heritage elements, including the Nanaimo Military Museum, First Nations petroglyphs, a miner’s cottage, and a historic steam engine. Landmarks include a locomotive, coal wagon, and mining artifacts, along with heritage Douglas fir and arbutus trees.

Amenities:

• Community park
• Trail

Address:
125 Front Street

Westwood Lake Park is one of Nanaimo's best loved parks. Nestled in the foothills of Mt. Benson, it is a year-round destination. A 5.51 kilometre trail loops around the lake and is popular with walkers and runners. The trail is well groomed and, apart from a steep knoll on the west side, is considered an easy route. Shorter loops are available near the south end of the park.

Common Amenities:

• Beach access
• Benches
• Bike friendly
• Boat ramp
• Community park
• Dog off-leash area
• Drinking fountain
• Fishing
• Free parking
• Interpretive content
• Kayaking
• Natural wilderness trail
• Pedestrian routes
• Picnic area
• Playground
• Swimming
• Washrooms

Address:
381 Westwood Rd