Waterloo Park
Trails and park continue to be open regular hours, subject to physical distancing and gathering size limits.
We ask the public to explore opportunities close to home and avoid travelling to destination areas. Many outdoor spaces are experiencing higher volumes at this time.
Note that trails are maintained differently throughout the winter:
- paved trails such as the Iron Horse or Spur Line are cleared first, expect mostly bare conditions
- gravel trails cannot be maintained by salt, expect packed snow and wet conditions
- natural trails in environmentally sensitive areas are not winter maintained but remain open for use
Please use appropriate footwear for the expected terrain.
Known as the jewel of the city, Waterloo Park has a lake, animal farm, picnic areas, splash pad, sport fields, playgrounds and more.
Download the park map (PDF) for more detail.
On this page
- Park location, hours and directions
- Amenities, attractions and rentals
- Improvement plans and projects
- Friends of Waterloo Park volunteer group
- O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp
Park location, hours and directions
Waterloo Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. The main entrance to the park is at 50 Young Street West.
Free vehicle parking is available from the Young Street West and Westmount Road North entrances to the park. Follow roads into the park and watch for signage. There is also free three-hour street parking along Father David Bauer Drive.
Bike parking racks are available by the splash pad and Park Inn concession on the park's east side, and beside the interactive play area on the west side.
Amenities, attractions and rentals
Waterloo Park sits on 111 acres in uptown Waterloo. Many areas are available for rent.
There are accessible washrooms on the east and west sides, open daily from May 1 to Thanksgiving Day. The east side washrooms are open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. during winter.
Propane BBQs are permitted in rented picnic areas, with the exception of the east gazebos. Charcoal BBQs are not permitted per the city's open air burning bylaw.
There is public wifi service at the baseball diamonds and the skate park.
General amenities |
General amenities and attractions include:
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Splash pad |
Waterloo Park's splash pad is located off Father David Bauer Drive, next to the skate park. Free parking is available on the street or in lots surrounding the park. Admission is free. The splash pad is closed for the season. We look forward to opening next year the first Saturday in June until the Labour Day weekend. |
Eby Farmstead |
Eby Farmstead is centrally located in the park. It is home to a variety of animals including llamas, peacocks, chickens, potbelly pigs, miniature ponies, goats and more. Please do not feed the animals while visiting. Admission is free. |
Skatepark |
The Skatepark is located off Father David Bauer Drive and offers ramps, stairs and vertical elements. It is not lit and closes at dusk. |
Grist mill |
Abraham Erb's Grist Mill is a replica of the first mill built in Waterloo. Starting October 2019 it will be closed due to construction along Silver Lake. It is slated to re-open in 2022. |
Park Inn concession stand |
The Park Inn concession is open daily (10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.) from the Friday of Victoria Day weekend until Labour Day. It is located near the Lions Lagoon Splash pad and offers a range of drinks, snacks, ice cream and lunch items such as sandwiches, burgers and fries. Cash, debit and credit are accepted. |
Log school house |
Built in 1820 by Pennsylvania German settlers and designated as a heritage site in 2012, the Waterloo Park Log School House is located near the main park parking lot off Young Street. It is the oldest standing school in the Region of Waterloo and the oldest known log house in Ontario. |
Improvement plans and projects
Created in 2009, the Waterloo Park Master Plan provides a 20-year vision that identifies new park trends, expands on traditional roles and involves the public through an advisory committee.
Silver Lake will undergo renovation from 2019 to 2021. Improvements may include reconfiguration of the footprint and shoreline, changing depth and sediment management. Learn more on our studies page.
Friends of Waterloo Park volunteer group
This group works with the Waterloo Park Advisory Committee to promote the goals of the Waterloo Park Master Plan. Their goals include:
- raising the park's profile
- supporting development of new programs and events
- raising funds to accelerate implementation of key features of the master plan
- proposing ways of recognizing donations, initiatives and achievements in the park
- promoting volunteerism and engaging residents in community building
Catch up with Friends of Waterloo Park on twitter, Facebook, Instagram or email them at fowp@waterloo.ca.
Friends of Waterloo Park terms of reference |
Our missionThe Friends of Waterloo Park is a volunteer group that works in cooperation with the Waterloo Park advisory committee and the City of Waterloo to fulfill the goals of the Waterloo Park Master Plan. The Friends of Waterloo Park organize, promote and participate in events in the park and fundraise to enhance and accelerate improvements to Waterloo Park. Our Goals
A brief historyThe Friends of Waterloo Park was established in April 2015 as a subcommittee of the Waterloo Park advisory committee of council (WPAC). In 2017, the subcommittee was re-designated as a volunteer group (City of Waterloo committee policy, 2007). StructureThe Friends of Waterloo Park consists of a chair, a finance team, multiple specialty teams each coordinated by a team lead, a WPAC liaison and a City of Waterloo staff liaison. MeetingsThe Friends of Waterloo Park meet in the evenings, once or twice a month, and work in the park once or twice each season. Appointment
Qualifications for Friends of Waterloo ParkThe list below outlines the requirements for being a member of the Friends of Waterloo Park.
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O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp
Members of the local Indigenous community have gathered on lands in Victoria Park, Kitchener since late June 2020. Victoria Park and Waterloo Park hold an important place in local Indigenous history and traditions.
Known as the O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp, this group of Indigenous people is gathering peacefully in solidarity and celebration, and to advance reconciliation actions.
Out of respect for this space and those gathering on it, please avoid visiting uninvited.
The cities of Waterloo and Kitchener are meeting with the land back camp organizers to discuss and determine next steps and how we can move forward together. These conversations will be ongoing and will take some time.
Educational resources
It’s important to learn about the complete history of Indigenous people in our country to understand the reasons why organizers are gathered at the O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp.
We have been listening and we have been doing the recommended work to increase our understanding of the cultural and historical context of the current situation. This is necessary work to advance the journey towards reconciliation.
We encourage the community to do the same. Here is a small list of the numerous resources available by Google search to help you learn more and understand.
- Dish with One Spoon Treaty
- Covenant Chain
- Ontario Human Rights Code
- UNDRIP
- Sundown Decision (R. v. Sundown, 1999)
- Investigate the work of Isaac Murdoch and Christi Belcourt to establish ‘culture camps’
- Government of Canada – Indigenous History
- Indigenous Canada – A free, online, 12 lesson course that allows you to work through the lessons at your own pace
- Summary of the final report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada
- Read it
- Listen to it
- Read the 94 Calls to Action
- Read it
- Know the Land: Territories Campaign – a local resource on territorial acknowledgements