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:

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

Parks

Colchester

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.

Adelaide Street and Herring Avenue

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

Essex Centre

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 W

Harrow

Pearson Drive

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

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.

243 McAffee Street

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

King Street West

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

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.

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

11th Concession

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

11071 11th 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, multi-use courts, washrooms and a canteen. For information, call 519-726-5434.

9571 Walker Road

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

Picnic Areas and Pavilions

Enjoy good weather and good company with a picnic or group gathering at one of our picnic areas or pavilions.

Booking a Picnic Area

For information on renting a town pavilion or reserving a picnic area for group functions, visit our Facility Rentals page. Most rentals are free but bookings are required to avoid time conflicts.

Colchester

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. Picnic tables and public washrooms nearby.

Essex

87 Station Street, Essex Centre

  • This pavilion, sponsored by the Essex BIA, is the perfect spot for a summer-time concert. Kick back and enjoy the beautiful Heritage Gardens Park, the Essex Spitfire, and the nearby historic Essex Train Station.

Fairview Avenue West

  • The Essex Soccer Fields enjoy regular Saturday use during the soccer season, but the fields and the pavilion are available for public use, organized events and rentals throughout the year.

Enter from Milne Street or use the Hanlan Street Trail

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

Keown Street

  • Sadler's Park is a 10.4 acre nature park that includes two ponds, a dock, picnic tables and a pavilion for public use, organized events and rentals.

Harrow

243 McAffee Street

  • The Harrow Fairgrounds include two pavilions - one near the Agricultural Building and the other near the high school. Picnic tables available. Close to ball diamonds and splash pad.

Splash Pads

The splash pads will be open daily from Victoria Day weekend until early October (weather permitting).

Enjoy a fun and refreshing splash pad experience featuring sprayers from the ground, overhead devices, and side posts. A dump bucket fills up and empties on those standing below, while stationed squirt guns let you spray your friends and family for even more fun.

These splash pads use recycled water that goes through a chlorinated filtration system and UV antibacterial light to help kill bacteria, making it safe and environmentally friendly.

Colchester Splash Pad

Colchester Splash Pad

Open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

100 Jackson Street (Colchester Harbour Park)

Harrow Splash Pad

Harrow Splash Pad

Open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

243 McAffee St (Harrow Arena)

Essex Splash Pad

Essex Splash Pad

Open daily from 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM.

60 Fairview Avenue West (Essex Centre Sports Complex)

Sunscreen Stations

Stay sun smart when splashing around! All three of the Town's splash pads feature FREE sunscreen stations.

Contact Us

Town of Essex
33 Talbot Street South
Essex, Ontario, N8M 1A8

519-776-7336