Parks, Playgrounds and Trails

The Town of Essex maintains a number of parks, playgrounds and trails to meet a wide range of recreational needs and promote healthy and active living for people of all ages.

Get outside and get active in one of our communities:

• Colchester
• Essex Centre
• Harrow
• McGregor

For information on renting a town pavilion or picnic area, visit the Facility Rentals page.

Colchester

Colchester Parks Map

Colchester Harbour Park

100 Jackson Street

• This park includes 1.9 acres of parkland with a splash pad and a pirate ship playground structure surrounded by rubberized flooring, monkey bars and swings. Also includes public washrooms.

Bell Park

Adelaide Street and Herring Avenue

• This passive park offers a scenic view of Lake Erie.

Essex Centre

Essex Centre Parks Map

Bridlewood Optimist Park

Enter from Milne Street or use the Hanlan Street Trail

• Bridlewood Optimist Park is a fenced, 3.2 acre property and includes a large hill that is ideal for sledding. There are also many playground structures including swings, climbing frames, monkey bars, and horse springs. A pavilion is available for public use, organized events and rentals.

Essex Centre Dog Park

60 Fairview Avenue West

An off-leash dog park is available for public use in Essex Centre. Located near the old pool house near the Essex Centre Sports Complex (60 Fairview Avenue West), the dog park consists of an enclosed and grassed area with an additional fenced entrance that allows handlers to leash their dogs before exiting the park.

For full details, please visit our Dogs webpage. 

Heritage Gardens

Station Street

• A beautiful garden path leads from Talbot Street to the historic Essex Railway Station. Markers identifying individuals and families who have contributed to the development of the town line the path.

Hunter Park

Brock Street

• Hunter Park is a fenced, 1.6 acre property and includes a playground structure, slides, a swing set, picnic tables, recreational baseball area and recreational soccer field.

Lions Optimist Park (Stanton Park)

Enter from Stanton Court or Maidstone Avenue East

• This park has four playground structures including climbing frames, slides, monkey bars, and swings. It also contains a basketball court and a recreational baseball area. This 2.5 acres of parkland is partially fenced.

Sadler's Nature Park and Trail

Keown Street

• Sadler's Park is a 10.4 acre nature park including a 1km walking path that extends into the first kilometre of the future Essex-Amherstburg Greenway (ERCA). The park includes two ponds, a dock, picnic tables and a pavilion for public use, organized events and rentals.

Sparky's Park

Oak Drive

• Sparky's Park is a partially fenced, half acre park that helps young children learn about fire safety. The park has playground structures, swings and horse springs that look like fire trucks. A small basketball court is located in the rear of the park.

Tot Park

60 Fairview Ave. W.

• Located beside the Essex Centre Splash Pad, the small accessible park was relocated from Town Hall to the Essex Centre Sports Complex in the summer of 2022.  The park includes rubberized flooring, swings, a slide and rocking rides.  Picnic tables, park benches and an accessible entrance are included in the design plans.

Tulley Meadows Bush and Trail

Enter from Woodview Drive or Fairview Avenue West

• Tulley Meadows is a unique Carolinian woodland supporting a diversity of trees and wild flowers. A trail connects Woodview Drive to Fairview Avenue West.

Harrow

Harrow Parks Map

Bramblewood Park

Pearson Drive

• This park is an open concept, 1.3 acre neighbourhood park with children's playground equipment.

Chrysler Canada Greenway

Queen Street (County Road 11)

• This multi-use recreational trail begins in Oldcastle and passes through the Town of Essex at both McGregor and Harrow.

Harrow Fairgrounds Park

243 McAffee Street

• Located near the Harrow and Colchester South Community Centre, this park contains playground structures, swings, monkey bars and a splash pad.

Harrow Veterans' Memorial Park

King Street West

• Located in downtown Harrow beside the post office, this park has two gazebos, benches and a checkerboard table.

Liberato Park

Munger Street West

• This park is an open concept neighbourhood park that is almost an acre in size and contains children's playground equipment including: a play structure, slide, swing and climbing feature.

Pollard Park and Kinsmen Participark Trail

243 McAffee Street

• Pollard Park contains two baseball diamonds, two recreational soccer fields, and a 1.47km nature trail. The park is 21 acres in size and includes a pavilion that is available for public use, organized events and rentals.

McGregor

McGregor Parks Map

Chrysler Canada Greenway

11^th Concession

• This multi-use recreational trail begins in Oldcastle and passes through the Town of Essex at both McGregor and Harrow.

Co-An Park

11071 11^th Concession

• Located in a country setting, this park includes a children's play structure, picnic shelter, covered pavilion (for rent), six baseball diamonds, three soccer fields, tennis courts, washrooms and a canteen. For information, call 519-726-5434.

McGregor Community Centre Playground

9571 Walker Road

• A fenced outdoor play structure is located just in front of the McGregor Community Centre.