Trillium Park

Trillium Park — a re-imagined Lake Ontario shoreline

On a former parking lot at Ontario Place, just west of downtown, a waterfront park now traces the memory of an ancient shoreline — open, free green space with wide views across Lake Ontario.

Highlights

• William G. Davis Trail — a 1.3 km waterfront path named for former Ontario Premier Bill Davis, linking to the Martin Goodman Trail.
• Moccasin Identifier — granite carvings developed with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation, alongside three “marker trees” recalling a First Nations navigation tradition.
• Muskoka granite boulders — about 1,700 tonnes evoking the prehistoric Lake Iroquois shoreline.
• The Summit and The Bluff — a high lookout with views and water’s-edge seating.
• Sunrise Garden Pavilion and Romantic Garden — sheltered lakeside gathering spots with a fire pit nearby.
• Native Ontario planting — about 1,200 trees (red oak, red pine, sugar maple) and tens of thousands of shrubs and perennials.

What you’ll find

Compact but layered, the park packs lookouts, gardens and a shoreline walk into a few gently raised acres.

• The William G. Davis Trail running along the water.
• A lakeside fire pit for gathering.
• The Summit high point and The Bluff seating at the water’s edge.
• The Sunrise Garden Pavilion and the Romantic Garden.
• Muskoka granite boulders and three marker trees.

Things to do — and who it’s for

• Couples and photographers — sunrise and skyline vantage points from The Summit and The Bluff.
• Walkers and cyclists — an easy waterfront trail that connects onward.
• Families — open lawns and a lakeside fire pit.
• Culture-minded visitors — the Moccasin Identifier and marker trees.
• Picnickers — quiet gardens and lookouts by the lake.

Getting there & practical

The park sits at Ontario Place, just west of downtown on the Lake Ontario shore. It links directly to the Martin Goodman Trail, so it is easy to reach on foot or by bike along the waterfront. Entry is free and the green space is open year-round; about 7.5 acres (3 hectares), it makes for a relaxed hour or two.

When to visit

Come at sunrise for the finest light over the water and skyline. Native trees turn in autumn, spring and summer bring a green, flowering landscape, and winter leaves the lakefront bracing and wind-swept.

Good to know

Trillium Park opened on 19 June 2017 as the first phase of the Ontario Place revitalization, five years after Ontario Place closed in 2012. Built on a former parking lot and raised roughly 1.5 m for flood protection, it was designed by LANDinc with West 8 and deliberately re-imagines the ancient glacial Lake Iroquois shoreline.

Visitor tips

• Arrive at sunrise for the best skyline light.
• Bring a picnic — there is a lakeside fire pit and plenty of seating at The Bluff.
• Follow the William G. Davis Trail to link onto the Martin Goodman Trail.

Questions & answers

Is Trillium Park free? Yes, it is free, open green space.

Where is it? At Ontario Place, just west of downtown on the Lake Ontario shore.

How big is it? About 7.5 acres (3 hectares).

What is the Moccasin Identifier? Granite carvings developed with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation honouring Indigenous heritage trails.

Can I cycle there? Yes — the William G. Davis Trail connects to the Martin Goodman Trail.

When did it open? On 19 June 2017, as the first phase of the Ontario Place revitalization.