A little north, a little nicer — the motto of the city of Richmond Hill. The same can be said of its parks. With Trinity Point’s new release of premier townhomes at Red Oaks, and the weather warming up, here is a selection of great green spaces with fantastic amenities where you can bring the kids and enjoy a day outside.
Snakes and Ladders Park
This is not just any old children’s park. The whole thing is actually one big game of Snakes and Ladders. In the game, children act as the game pieces and spin a giant pair of dice to decide how many spaces they can advance. If the player lands on a ladder, they get to climb a real ladder to move further in the game. If they land on a “snake,” then they go down a snake-shaped slide and are set back in the game. The park is just off Bayview and 19th Avenue and is a novel destination to give kids something new to do in the summer, plus it’s an interactive activity that can be played with other children.
Richmond Green
Richmond Green is a huge sports complex at Leslie and Elgin Mills with great community activities and organized sports leagues. It has just about any sports offering you could think of: Hockey rinks, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, a basketball court, and an indoor sports dome, all of which host a variety of leagues for children and adults of all ages. Richmond Green also has a picturesque walkway lined with well-kept gardens and open green space. In the winter, the park is decorated with an impressive display of lights, and the Richmond Green Skate Trail opens for families, friends, and first dates.
Lake Wilcox Community Park
This park is just off Lake Wilcox and features two full outdoor volleyball courts, two basketball courts, and a skatepark. The surrounding protected green space features boardwalks, grassy areas, and a splash pad for kids. If you stop by in the summer, you’ll find a lively place to join a game of pick-up basketball or volleyball. You can get paid parking at Oak Ridges Community Centre or free parking in the nearby residential streets. And if you’re coming in the evening, the park has its lights on until 11 pm.
Jefferson Forest
Jefferson Forest is a nature preserve with an extensive network of trails right beside Lake Wilcox. The park sprawls through North Richmond Hill and is one of York Region’s best destinations for hiking, trail running, and mountain biking. For mountain bikers, the park has lots of beginner trails, along with challenging downhill trails with jumps for experienced bikers. And for walkers, hikers, and trail runners, you’ll find more than enough options at every level of difficulty. You can find free parking at the trail head parking lot just east of Bayview and Bethesda Side Road.
The Wave Pool
Okay, this isn’t a park, but it is a fantastic option if you’re looking for something to do with the kids: it’s a free community centre pool at Yonge and Major Mackenzie with a large wave pool, a 100-foot waterslide, water basketball nets, and a shallow swimming area for younger children. The Wave Pool is a great way to mix it up with your child’s regular swimming for a more fun alternative to the standard public pool. For parents, they also have recliner chairs and an on-deck sauna.
Thinking of moving to Richmond Hill? Check out Red Oaks, our new community of townhomes coming soon to Bayview Avenue and Elgin Mills Road. Register today to learn more.







