Kanata has more than 150 parks and green spaces — among the most of any Ottawa suburb — ranging from major destination parks with splash pads and sports fields to the quiet neighbourhood playgrounds found within a short walk of most homes. Standouts include Beaverbrook Park, the Katimavik-Hazeldean Community Park, and off-leash dog areas scattered across the community. For families, having a good park nearby is often as important as the house itself, and Kanata delivers on that better than almost anywhere in the west end. Jason Polonski, a Kanata-based REALTOR®, maps the best parks by neighbourhood and by what families are looking for.
This guide covers municipal parks and their amenities. For trails, the South March Highlands conservation forest, mountain biking, and nature recreation, see Kanata Outdoors; for kid-focused outings and rainy-day options, see family-friendly activities in Kanata.
Best Kanata parks by what you need
For a quick answer, here is where to head based on what matters most:
Best for young children: Beaverbrook Park and the Katimavik-Hazeldean Community Park, both with playgrounds and splash pads.
Best splash pads: Beaverbrook Park and Katimavik-Hazeldean Community Park lead for summer water play.
Best for dogs: Kanata has several off-leash dog areas — the City of Ottawa maintains the current list of off-leash areas.
Best for sports: larger community parks with soccer and baseball fields, plus the grounds around the Richcraft Recreation Complex.
The full breakdown by neighbourhood follows, and the City of Ottawa’s parks and greenspace directory lists every park with its amenities.
Beaverbrook parks
As Kanata’s original planned community, Beaverbrook is generously supplied with mature parks. Beaverbrook Park is the centrepiece, with ample green space, a playground, a splash pad, and sports fields for soccer, baseball, and casual play, plus connecting pathways. Smaller neighbourhood parks — including Allenby, Varley, and Tom Thomson parks — add playgrounds within walking distance of most homes. The area’s established trees and walkable layout make its parks especially pleasant. Buyers drawn to this mature, park-rich setting can explore the Beaverbrook neighbourhood guide.
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Kanata Lakes and North Kanata parks
North Kanata pairs neighbourhood parks with easy access to greenspace and the Beaver Pond. Whalen Park offers sports fields, playgrounds, and one of the area’s off-leash dog areas, while Morgan’s Grant and Kanata Lakes neighbourhoods are dotted with playgrounds and connect to the wider trail network. The proximity to the South March Highlands — covered on Kanata Outdoors — makes this part of Kanata a favourite for active families. See the Kanata Lakes and Kanata North guides for the neighbourhoods themselves.
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Bridlewood parks
Bridlewood is one of Kanata’s deepest family markets, and its parks reflect that. Bridlewood Park, along with Garvin, Begg, Cascades, and Hewitt parks, provides playgrounds, open green space, and walking paths woven through the neighbourhood’s tree-lined streets. The concentration of small, well-kept parks is part of why Bridlewood appeals so strongly to families with young children. The full picture is in the Bridlewood neighbourhood guide.
Katimavik-Hazeldean and Glen Cairn parks
South Kanata’s Katimavik and Glen Cairn communities are anchored by the Katimavik-Hazeldean Community Park, which combines playgrounds, sports fields, a splash pad, and walking trails — one of Kanata’s best all-in-one family parks. Nearby, Glen Cairn Park, Cooper Hill Park, and a series of neighbourhood green spaces add playgrounds and paths, and the area includes off-leash dog areas and a beach-style setting at Hazeldean Woods. These accessible, amenity-rich parks suit the value-focused families who favour Katimavik and Glen Cairn, covered further in the Glen Cairn guide.
South Kanata and community-complex parks
The parks around Kanata’s recreation complexes give families larger, multi-use spaces. The grounds near the Richcraft Recreation Complex and other community centres offer open areas for sports, picnics, and events, while linear parks such as the Allan Greenway provide walking and cycling connections between neighbourhoods. Shirleys Brook, Barrymore, and other neighbourhood parks round out the south-Kanata options with playgrounds and green space. These parks complement the indoor facilities detailed on Kanata sports complexes.
Splash pads, dog parks and water play
For summer, Kanata’s splash pads — led by Beaverbrook Park and the Katimavik-Hazeldean Community Park — give kids free, supervised-friendly water play across the season, complementing the indoor Kanata Leisure Centre and Wave Pool. Dog owners have several off-leash areas across the community; the City of Ottawa keeps the authoritative, current list of dog parks and off-leash areas, worth checking for the closest one to a given neighbourhood. Water lovers can also reach the Ottawa River shoreline and Beaver Pond, detailed on Kanata Outdoors.
How parks shape living in Kanata
Access to a good park is a genuine factor in Kanata home values — properties near well-loved parks and green corridors are consistently sought after, and the abundance of parks is one of the community’s biggest draws for families. It is a recurring theme in the benefits of living in Kanata and a real consideration when choosing among the best neighbourhoods in Kanata. Jason Polonski, who lives in Kanata, helps families find homes within a short walk of the right park for their kids and pets. Learn more about Jason Polonski, browse homes for sale in Kanata, explore day-to-day living in Kanata, or read verified reviews on his Google Business Profile.
Thinking about making Kanata home? Explore the full Kanata real estate guide for current prices, neighbourhoods, and homes for sale.
Frequently asked questions about Kanata parks
Kanata has more than 150 parks and green spaces, ranging from large destination parks with splash pads and sports fields to small neighbourhood playgrounds within walking distance of most homes — among the most of any Ottawa suburb.
Beaverbrook Park and the Katimavik-Hazeldean Community Park are top choices for young children, each combining playgrounds with a splash pad and open green space. Most Kanata neighbourhoods also have smaller playgrounds within a short walk.
Yes, Kanata has several off-leash dog areas across its neighbourhoods. The City of Ottawa maintains the current list of off-leash areas, which is the best place to confirm the one closest to a specific address.
Beaverbrook Park and the Katimavik-Hazeldean Community Park are among Kanata’s best-known splash pads for summer water play, complementing the indoor wave pool at the Kanata Leisure Centre.
For trails and nature, the South March Highlands conservation forest, Beaver Pond, and Greenbelt paths are the main destinations — these are covered in detail on the Kanata Outdoors page, while this page focuses on municipal parks and playgrounds.
Yes. Homes near well-loved parks and green corridors are consistently in demand, and the abundance of parks is one of Kanata’s biggest draws for families — making park proximity a real consideration when buying.
