Parks, Trails & Natural Areas

If you and your neighbours or community group are interested in building and maintaining a community ice rink in your local park, we’re accepting applications. For more information or if you are interested in applying please contact Service Oshawa at 905-436-3311. Review the Outdoor Ice Rinks Policy and Procedure.

Staff will review the request  to ensure site suitability including:

• water access
• sufficient flat space with suitable drainage
• proximity to homes and sensitive areas

Once approved, Outdoor Ice Rink Volunteers will work together to build and maintain the rinks by flooding and shovelling, caring for equipment and keeping a watchful eye on the rinks in accordance with the City's safety requirements.

• Joseph Kolodzie Oshawa Creek Bike Path, 7 km   

• Michael Starr Trail, 5 km

• Harmony Creek Trail, 4 km

• Waterfront Trail, 11 km

Please respect the following code:

• No motorized vehicles

• Stay on the designated recreational trail

• No hunting

• Obey signs

• Cyclists and e-bike riders must keep right, use a bell or verbal indication when passing, travel at moderate speed, use caution around pedestrians and dismount when crossing streets

• Keep right to allow others to pass

• Keep the trails clean use the trash cans where provided or take your litter home

• Keep pets on a leash (not exceeding two metres) 

• Respect and protect nature, leave flowers, plants and trees for others to enjoy

• Stay alert and be aware of your surroundings and of others - remember that conditions can change and the trails are prone to seasonal flooding and freezing

During the summer months, City Municipal Law Enforcement Officers patrol City trails and parks using bicycles and ATVs to connect with parks and trail users, to educate on the Recreational Trail Users Code and to enforce the Parks and Facilities By-law.

Taking a walk or ride along Oshawa's portion of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail? Use your smartphone camera to scan Quick Response (QR) codes placed on signage along the trail to learn about the various parks and amenities. The QR codes can also help with wayfinding by linking you to other points of interest along the trail.

Durham College (DC) students in the School of Media, Art and Design researched, designed and created the interactive information portal as part of a City Idea Lab course through TeachingCity Oshawa.

You can also use the desktop version to plan your trip.

The City of Oshawa constructs all new recreational trails to meet accessibility standards. Older established portions of the recreational trails may have steep slopes, sharp turns and unprotected edges that travel close to the lake or creek. Some portions are prone to seasonal flooding and freezing. On-road portions of the network require the user to move along and across areas with traffic.

On weekdays year-round, Parks staff conduct regular trail inspections, repairs and maintenance activities along the trails including helping to keep the trails clean and litter free.

During the summer months, City Municipal Law Enforcement Officers patrol City trails and parks using bicycles and ATVs to connect with community members who are using our parks and trails and to educate and enforce on the Recreational Trail Users Code.

Additionally, through a collaborative effort, Municipal Law Enforcement officers and police conduct regular foot patrols through our priority parks, trails and greenspaces.

To report illegal activity on City trails, parks or greenspaces, please contact Durham Region Police Services at 905-579-1520 or [email protected]. To submit a report related to park use, please contact Service Oshawa at 905-436-3311.

The Active Transportation Master Plan developed in 2015 sets out the means for improving and expanding Oshawa's active transportation network.