Here are downtown Mississauga’s best parks worth visiting

MISSISSAUGA, September 23, 2024 – As you undoubtedly know, Toronto features a wealth of beautiful downtown parks, but did you also know that downtown Mississauga – the city beside the city- is home to numerous parks, all with different amenities. Let’s explore the top parks singled out by the City of Mississauga as the most beautiful in the downtown core!

Mississauga is renowned for its spectacular parks system, particularly along the city’s lakefront and bordering the picturesque, Credit River. But Mississauga also has several parks located around its ever-growing city centre, each with unique amenities where you can unwind, escape in nature, get active or appreciate art!

Located conveniently near each other

These downtown parks are all conveniently located near each other, offering residents and visitors a wonderful opportunity to explore some or all of them in the same day. Each park’s unique features contribute significantly to the overall beauty of Mississauga. From manicured gardens to outdoor fitness facilities, each park offers a unique experience.

The City has made strides in developing pedestrian-friendly park spaces in the Downtown area. The Downtown features a planned system of parks and walkways that contribute to a walkable downtown. Plan a day to explore one or all six parks on your next visit.

Here are some of the City of Mississauga’s top choice downtown parks worth a visit:

Scholars’ Green

Located adjacent to Sheridan College’s Hazel McCallion Campus, Scholars’ Green has a lot of unique features including an outdoor classroom and public square. The park was designed with sustainable materials and green technologies.

This public park also has:

• Many seating areas to chat with friends and family or to study, including outdoor café tables and chairs.
• Three ping pong tables and five permanent chess tables. So, grab a partner and don’t forget to bring your ping pong balls and paddles or chess pieces.
• An outdoor fitness area where you’ll be able to get your workout in.
• Six hammocks where you can relax and enjoy nature.
• Artificial turf field where you can play casual sports.

Community Common

Located across from City Hall, Community Common features an open lawn with a hill  and a variety of seating areas. Located on the top of the hill is a public art piece, “Contemplating Child” by Ferruccio Sardella. The open lawn areas are great for passive recreation, playing with friends and relaxation. It also has public washrooms, a fountain, a dog spot and boxed soccer. Take a walk to the top of the hill to enjoy the view and to appreciate the beautiful public art piece.

Living Arts Centre Grounds

Living Arts Centre Grounds is a park with lots of green space, multiple public art installations, a beautiful garden and a fountain. It’s located just outside of Living Arts Centre. Visit this park when you’re looking to eat lunch by the fountain, relax on the grassy grounds, find inspiration or to admire the artwork.

The public art includes:

• Studio Pavilion by Stacey Spiegel
• Data Wall by Stacey Spiegel
• Pool of Knowledge by Stacey Spiegel
• Book Wall by Stacey Spiegel

Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Garden

The Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Garden is a serene garden located on the upper portion of Celebration Square. This green space has shaded resting areas for you to enjoy. It’s a great place to escape the busyness of Downtown Mississauga and relax in a beautiful garden. To find this oasis, you can enter along Living Arts Drive or from the northwest side of Celebration Square.

Mississauga Celebration Square

Mississauga Celebration Square is a unique outdoor space that is home to hundreds of free festivals, concerts and events. Located in the heart of Downtown Mississauga, it features amenities like a wading pool, public art, skateboarding facility, outdoor theatre and a shade structure.

Kariya Park

Kariya Park is a stunning, Japanese-inspired park located in the heart of the city. It honours the City’s twin-city relationship with Kariya, Japan. The park features beautiful gardens, unique Japanese decorations, a pond and a variety of plants including rhododendrons, pines, ginkgo, sweetgum, magnolias and four different varieties cherry blossom trees.

The park also has a:

• Friendship Bell, located in the pavilion, which is rung on ceremonial occasions.
• Stone tsukabai basin, which was hand-carved by Fumio Naito, a sculptor from Kariya, Japan.
• Zig-zag boardwalk, which crosses a marsh containing Japanese irises and other water-loving plants.
• Cascade waterfall with overhanging red Japanese maple.
• Dry stream bed, representing a flowing stream with different sizes of stones, carefully placed to imitate fast and slow-moving currents.
• Duck pond with a turtle rock, which represents a turtle climbing out of the water.
• Photomosaic of 6,750 pictures, celebrating the past exchanges between Kariya and Mississauga to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the twinning of the cities depicting the scene of the Mando Matsuri festival which has been celebrated by Kariya residents for more than 200 years.
• Statue of Friendship, which was a gift from the City of Kariya to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the twinning of the cities.

The value of parks

Parks have positive social, health, economic and environmental benefits for cities. They are an essential part of a complete community, support healthy lifestyles and contribute to everyday quality of life. Parks support Mississauga’s housing strategy by making meaningful contributions to the quality of neighbourhoods in a growth environment. Parks provide opportunities to enjoy nature, appreciate public art, experience social interaction, participate in recreational activities and be physically active.

To learn more about Mississauga’s parks, mississauga.ca/parks.

by Terry Lankstead, with content provided by City of Mississauga

all images provided by City of Mississauga

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