Hello, summer!

Enjoy Vaughan’s bike paths, walking trails, parks, splashpads and more

If you’re looking for something to do outside this summer, the City of Vaughan has you covered. Vaughan is home to many parks, park amenities and trails available to explore.

Here’s how you can enjoy Vaughan’s great outdoors:

Trails and neighbourhood walks

Choose from 12 different Great Walks of Vaughan throughout the city: Jersey Creek Neighbourhood Walk, Mackenzie Glen Neighbourhood Walk, Maple Nature Reserve Nature Walk, Marita Payne Neighbourhood Walk, North Maple Regional Park Nature Walk, Peter Rupert Neighbourhood Walk, Rainbow Creek Neighbourhood Walk (note: select paths temporarily closed for stormwater management pond installations), Riverwalk Neighbourhood Walk, Sonoma Heights Neighbourhood Walk, Sugarbush Nature Walk, Vellore Neighbourhood Walk and William Granger Greenway Nature Walk. There’s a trail for all ages, abilities and comfort levels. Visit vaughan.ca/GreatWalks for more information and maps. You can also browse the Parks and Trails webpage for an interactive view of all trails and parks throughout the city, the Great Walks of Vaughan walking trail guide (PDF) and the City’s Great Walks of Vaughan map legend (PDF).

In addition to the Great Walks of Vaughan, our city has many other local trails to explore, including the Bartley Smith Greenway, the William Granger Greenway (Humber Trail), the Nashville Conservation Reserve Trails and the Vaughan Super Trail. Learn more about these trails at vaughan.ca/trails.

StoryWalk

Discover StoryWalk – back again this year! As you walk along select City trails, discover large panels showcasing colourful pages of children’s books. With each step, the story unfolds one page at a time in this immersive and interactive experience. When you’re visiting a trail in your area, use the hashtag #LoveVPL on social media and share pictures and videos of your outdoor fun. Remember not to disturb or get close to wildlife. Find a StoryWalk trail at vaughanpl.info/storywalk.

Park amenities

The City’s parks offer a wide variety of outdoor activities for all ages to enjoy, including baseball fields, basketball courts, bocce courts, off-leash dog parks, outdoor exercise equipment, playgrounds, skateboard parks, soccer fields, splashpads, tennis courts, pickleball courts, trails, volleyball courts and more. Visit vaughan.ca/parks for more information. Splashpads are now open daily from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., subject to weather and surface conditions. For splashpad locations, visit vaughan.ca/splashpads.

Thornhill outdoor pool

For the rest of June, the City’s Thornhill Outdoor Pool (located at 26 Old Yonge St.) will continue to offer recreational swimming on weekends only from 12:45 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. The pool will open daily starting on Canada Day, Saturday, July 1, and operate on a holiday schedule. The full schedule takes effect on Sunday, July 2 through to Monday, Sept. 4, and includes designated times for recreational, length and parent and tot swims as well as aquafitness classes. Pre-registration and pre-payment are available for your convenience one week in advance of all scheduled swims at vaughan.perfectmind.com. Limited spots will be available for walk-ins prior to the start of a recreational activity. For schedules and fees, visit vaughan.ca/swim.  

Cycling

Vaughan’s cycling and multi-use recreational trails network consists of the following:

• In-boulevard cycle tracks: designated space for cyclists that are separate from pedestrians and motorists. These areas are marked with a bicycle symbol and a diamond.
• On-road bike lanes: designated space for cyclists that are separate from pedestrians but run along the same road as motorists. These areas are made visible with pavement markings.
• In-boulevard multi-use pathways: shared space for pedestrians and cyclists that are separate from motorists. These areas are within the boulevard along a roadway.
• Multi-use recreational trails: shared space for pedestrians and cyclists found within parks and open spaces.

And it continues to grow! For more information, visit vaughan.ca/cycling. You can also explore Vaughan’s cycling facilities in the York Region Cycling Map.

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