Trinity Bellwoods Park

Trinity Bellwoods Park — downtown-west’s social backyard in a buried creek ravine

Trinity Bellwoods is a beloved 15.4-hectare park in the heart of the west-downtown neighbourhood of the same name, shaped by the buried ravine of Garrison Creek. Part gathering place, part sports hub, it draws picnickers, dog walkers and casual athletes to its grassy slopes and shady canopy.

Highlights

• The Bowl — a natural amphitheatre-like depression, the last remnant of the Garrison Creek ravine, and the park’s social heart.
• The Dog Bowl — the lower part of the Bowl, a well-known off-leash area.
• The replica iron gates — historic gates that once marked the entrance to the former Trinity College, standing at the south edge.
• Trinity Community Recreation Centre — indoor pools, a gym and a running track.
• Mature tree canopy — shading picnic slopes, a toboggan hill and open lawns.

What you’ll find

Beyond the Bowl, the park packs in courts, diamonds and year-round facilities.

• Tennis courts, volleyball and softball diamonds.
• A children’s wading pool and a playground.
• A winter skating rink and a toboggan hill.
• Indoor pools, gym and track at the recreation centre.
• The Bowl and Dog Bowl for lounging and off-leash play.

Things to do — and who it’s for

• Dog owners — the Dog Bowl off-leash area is a neighbourhood institution.
• Picnic crowds — young downtowners fill the Bowl on warm evenings.
• Casual athletes — tennis, softball, volleyball, running and indoor swimming.
• Families — playground, wading pool and winter skating.
• Market-goers — the weekly farmers’ market brings local produce in season.

Getting there & practical

The park lies in the west-downtown Trinity-Bellwoods neighbourhood and is easily reached by streetcar and public transit. Entry is free and the grounds are open daily; the recreation centre, courts and rink keep their own hours. Allow an hour to a full afternoon, especially in picnic season.

When to visit

Spring brings cherry blossoms; summer fills the Bowl with picnics and the weekly farmers’ market; autumn turns the canopy gold; and winter draws tobogganers to the hill, with skyline views across the ravine, plus skating on the rink.

Good to know

The park stands on the former site of Trinity College, founded in 1851, which relocated downtown in 1925 and was demolished in the early 1950s — the replica iron gates are its last visible trace. The Garrison Creek ravine that shaped the land was buried in the mid-20th century, and the creek now runs as a storm sewer beneath the Bowl.

Visitor tips

• Come to the Bowl on a warm evening to catch the park at its liveliest.
• Visit on a Tuesday afternoon, roughly May to October, for the farmers’ market.
• Keep an eye out for the neighbourhood’s cherished white squirrels.

Questions & answers

Is there an admission fee? No — the park is free to enter.

Is there an off-leash area for dogs? Yes — the Dog Bowl, the lower part of the Bowl, is a well-known off-leash spot.

When is the farmers’ market? On Tuesday afternoons, roughly May through October.

What can I do here in winter? Toboggan down the hill for skyline views and skate on the outdoor rink.

Are there indoor facilities? Yes — the Trinity Community Recreation Centre has indoor pools, a gym and a track.

What are the historic gates? Replica iron gates marking where the former Trinity College once stood.