9 Best Parks for a Family Picnic in Toronto

Hilary Roth Last updated: August 22, 2019 0 Comments

Whether you’re looking for a shaded, grassy spot to spread out your checkered blanket, or a sunny beach with wooden picnic tables, Toronto has lots of amazing parks for your next family picnic.

With playgrounds, splash pads, sports fields, and sand pits, these parks will have your tiniest toddlers and even older kids wanting to stay and play all afternoon.

Plus, these parks have water features to help you and your kids beat the heat. So pack your cold cuts, fruit salad, Frisbee, and sunscreen, and get ready for a day of family picnicking fun at one of these awesome Toronto parks!

Bluffer’s Park

Bluffer’s Park sits at the base of the Scarborough Bluffs and boasts one of the best picnic views in the city. With a sandy—not rocky—stretch of beach surrounded by the unique escarpment, Bluffer’s Park provides great scenery for a family picnic and lots to do for a whole day of fun.

Stop at a picnic table on the beach or set up your picnic on a grassy patch, then go for a family bike ride on a trail or take a dip in Lake Ontario.

No lunch? No problem. Bluffer’s Park Restaurant is at Bluffer’s Park Marina, but kids will be just as happy grabbing some grub from the hot dog and ice cream carts scattered about the park.

Dufferin Grove Park

With 28 picnic tables, Dufferin Grove Park is a great spot for little ones to play and picnic during the summer. I has an awesome traditional wooden play structure that is enclosed (a big plus!) and well-shaded. If kids need to cool off after digging in the sandpit or playing on the sports field, they can splash away at the wading pool. Older kids will enjoy the baseball diamond, basketball court, and skateboard park.

But the best part of picnicking at Dufferin Grove Park? Pizza days, where you can make your own pizza in the park’s bake ovens! On Sundays starting in June, and Wednesdays beginning in July, little pizza-makers and their parents can drop by between noon and 2 pm to get their own ball of dough, tomato sauce, and cheese for $2.50 a pizza. BYOT (bring your own toppings).

There’s also a year-round Farmers’ Market each Tuesday, 3–7 pm, if you’re looking for farm-fresh, local picnic ingredients!

Toronto Islands

To a kid, there’s absolutely nothing cooler than a picnic spot you need to take a ferry to get to. That’s part of what makes a family trip to the Toronto Islands so magical! There are lots of great picnic locations, with 21 on Centre Island, the most kid-friendly, adventure-packed part of the Toronto Islands.

After munching down, check out the Centreville Amusement Park, Far Enough Farm petting zoo, or Franklin’s Children Garden. Young sailors will want to check out the marina, boat house, and lookout pier too. And don’t miss an awesome family photo op with a great view of the Toronto skyline in the background.

Here’s how and where to catch the ferry to the Islands. Tip: Buy your ferry tickets online to skip the lineup!

High Park

With so much to do at High Park in addition to the picnic sites, the kids will have a blast staying at the park the whole day. To make sure you get a great picnic spot, you can pre-book one of the 18 designated picnic areas. After your picnic, the kids will want to hop on the trackless train to the High Park Zoo, Grenadier Pond, and cool castle play structure at the Jamie Bell Adventure Park for kids, which has a playground for toddlers, too.

If you don’t feel like packing your own picnic (and since no barbecues are allowed), visit the Grenadier Cafe overlooking the gardens in the heart of the park for lunch, or its outdoor ice cream parlour for a sweet summer treat. Picnicking with a large group? Grenadier Cafe offers catering on site or at picnic sites in the park. You’ll need a picnic permit for groups of 25 or more. Call 416-392-8188 to reserve a picnic spot or request a picnic permit.

Trinity Bellwoods Park

With some awesome take-away food options nearby on Queen West, Trinity Bellwoods is a great park for families who want to have a delicious picnic without packing it themselves.

Pre-order sandwiches from H Bar or barbecue from Smoque n’ Bones—or pick up Italian sandwiches from On-a-Bun, fish-and-chips from Chippy’s, or French macarons and sandwiches from Nadège Patisserie. On Tuesdays you can grab your ingredients from the farmer’s market, open 3–7 pm.

Then spend the rest of the day with the kids playing tennis or volleyball, running around the children’s playground, or cooling off at the wading pool.

Withrow Park

If you’re planning your family picnic on a Saturday, skip the basket full of deli sandwiches and head to the Withrow Park Farmers’ Market (June–mid-October, Saturdays 9 am–1 pm)instead for local, fresh food and lots of family-friendly fun!

After chowing down on organic produce, Ontario cheese, and a variety of freshly baked pastries, indulge in handcrafted ice cream sandwiches and natural ice pops from Sweet Sammies Ice Cream Sandwich Co.

Then check out the kids’ crafts and activities before frolicking in the lush, green grass, playing in one of the two playgrounds, or splashing around in the wading pool.

Corktown Common

On a hot summer day, when you’ll need to keep your active kids cool, you’ll want to take your picnic to a park with a great splash pad, like Corktown Common. Located beside the pavilion, which has covered communal picnic tables, an outdoor grill, and a fireplace, the rubber splash pad keeps kids entertained—and wet—with its jets, fountains, and sprays.

Parents who want to stay dry can keep an eye on their little ones from the big boulders surrounding the splash pad. Before heading home, check out the adventure playground on the other side of the pavilion, and explore the footpaths and boardwalk over the marsh.

Woodbine Beach Park

If you’re looking for a beachy, waterfront picnic, Woodbine Beach Park is the place to go. You can throw down a blanket or find a picnic shelter. Young beach-goers will love the kids’ playground and sandy beach, and parents will feel good knowing there are lifeguards on duty.

The recently renovated bathing station—now with new change rooms, water bottle filling stations, and a beach shower with a foot wash—makes it easy to get the kids changed and cleaned up, so they don’t bring the beach into the car with them on the ride home.

Riverdale Park East

Calling all sports lovers! Riverdale Park East is the perfect place for more athletic families to picnic. Got a tiny tennis player in your family? Riverdale has seven tennis courts. Or a baby Barry Bonds? There are two baseball diamonds. And with three multipurpose sports fields, there’s also plenty of space to play Frisbee, soccer, or tag!

When you’re done being active, cool off in the outdoor swimming pool. After a long day of picnicking and physical activity, stay to watch the sunset behind the scenic view of Toronto.

Hilary Roth is a writer, educator and editor who works full-time in marketing and LOVES everything to do with kids. When she’s not stumping people with her amazing riddles or playing mobile games, she can be found reading YA novels and cooking vegetarian food. Follow her on Twitter @hilroth12.