Waterloo Park

Parks, trails and playgrounds are open. You can now rent outdoor park spaces such as picnic areas and sports fields.

Public washrooms are open - find hours and locations.

Learn about other changes to city services on our COVID-19 response page. 

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

  1. Park location, hours and directions
  2. Amenities, attractions and rentals
  3. Improvement plans and projects
  4. Friends of Waterloo Park volunteer group
  5. O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp

Park location, hours and directions

Due to construction at Silver Lake the park's Young Street entrance and parking lot are currently closed. Trails around the lake will also be closed while the final asphalt and landscaping work is done. Visit Engage Waterloo for more project updates.

Waterloo Park is open daily from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. 

Free vehicle parking is available from Westmount Road North entrance 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.

During construction alternate parking is available atel:

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:

  • forests, trails and large green spaces (view city trail map for details)
  • picnic shelters and gazebos
  • Silver Lake and Laurel Creek
  • interactive playground, swings and a splash pad
  • farmstead with variety of animals
  • four baseball ball diamonds and a cricket pitch
  • single net basketball court
  • one rugby field and two soccer fields
  • skatepark
  • Victorian-style gardens
  • Abraham Erb's Grist Mill
  • Park Inn concession stand
  • Waterloo's first schoolhouse
  • Public Art and large harvest-style picnic tables

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 open from June to Labour day weekend in September. It's open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Accessible onsite change rooms, picnic and shaded areas are nearby. While the splash pad is not available for rent, the nearby picnic areas are able to provide privacy and shade for your event.

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.

The animals have left for their winter retreat where they will be warm, safe and cared for well. We look forward to their return in the spring of 2022.

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 (temporarily closed)

The Park Inn concession closed due to construction.

It is located near the Young Street parking lot 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.

Show Me The City - Stories of Waterloo Park virtual tour
Friends of Waterloo Park, together with the City of Waterloo and the City of Waterloo Museum, invite you to participate in a virtual tour of Waterloo Park. There are 24 stops on the tour. Read fun and interesting historical stories of different areas and features of the park.

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 mission

The 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
  • foster community awareness of and appreciation for Waterloo Park
  • promote and encourage the use of newly implemented features as well as existing park features
  • raise funds for new projects, park enhancements and community activities
  • promote volunteerism to engage residents in barn-raising activities
A brief history

The 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).

Structure

The 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. 

Meetings

The Friends of Waterloo Park meet in the evenings, once or twice a month, and work in the park once or twice each season.

Appointment
  • when a position vacancy exists, a volunteer recruitment notice will be published on the city website and other sources
  • interested applicants will contact volunteer services with a resume and two references before the deadline
  • volunteer services and the city staff liaison will review all applications, carry out interviews and reference checks and recommend appointments   
Qualifications for Friends of Waterloo Park

The list below outlines the requirements for being a member of the Friends of Waterloo Park. 

  • must be 18 years of age or older
  • have good organizational skills, written and verbal communication
  • show an interest or experience in finance, fundraising, sponsorship, communication, or event and program planning
  • be willing to work cooperatively in partnership with city staff and other Friends and delegates
  • be capable of fulfilling the responsibilities of the position held
  • commit to a minimum of one year is required, subject to review with the city staff liaison at any time
  • attend a minimum of four meetings and four activities over the course of one year

O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp

In 2020 members of the Indigenous community gathered in Victoria Park (in Kitchener) and Waterloo Park. Both places are important to local Indigenous history and traditions.

Known as the O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp, the group gathered peacefully to advance reconciliation actions.

For more information visit the O:se Kenhionhata:tie Land Back Camp Facebook page and our Indigenous reconciliation page.