— Go on,
get outside

Public spaces are every bit as important to East Village as arts, culture, business and history. From squares to pathways and pavilions to playgrounds, we have outdoor places for people to gather, garden, move and commune.

BIKE & WALK

The award-winning Jack & Jean Leslie RiverWalk™ provides dedicated pedestrian and cycle lanes along the edges of the Bow and Elbow rivers. Stretching from Centre Street Bridge to 9 Avenue SE, RiverWalk is not only a way to get from point A to B, it’s a destination for anyone wanting to spend time outside.

Take advantage of RiverWalk’s connection to 700 kilometres of the city’s pathways for a safe and efficient car-free commute to downtown. Want to wander or relax? Watch for the benches, the outlooks over the water or the wide steps leading down to the river – all good spots for some chill time.

RiverWalk Plaza, between the Simmons Building and the Bow River, is often hopping. Beakerhead festivities, food trucks, artisan markets, opera festivals and much more have turned this East Village hotspot into a cultural hub.

GARDEN, PLAY & PET

Crossroads is as much a gathering place as it is a thoroughfare. As well as linking big elements of East Village (George C. King Bridge, RiverWalk, the Riff pedestrian street and The Confluence), it contains areas for play, rest and hanging out with human and furry friends.

Early residents first dug into the Crossroads Community Garden in East Village in Spring 2016. The growing area includes raised beds for gardeners with mobility challenges, accessible water and a communal garden shed. It contains 88 plots, which are available to green-thumbed East Village residents.

Always a family favourite, the Crossroads playground provides endless options for children to use their imagination and have fun with unstructured play. Slides, balance boards, xylophones and bongos keep little ones busy while bistro tables and chairs nearby allow parents to comfortably keep watch.

Neighbourhood dogs and their people get their very own fully fenced urban park, complete with a playground for pets. It also has spots to sit, double-gated entry and exit, landscaping, wheelchair accessible paths and a durable turf that will stand up to all the fetches and catches.

Pickleball & Public Washrooms

Get ready to expect the unexpected with East Village’s newest public amenity, serving up excitement to the neighbourhood by fall of 2024. Currently underway is the construction of a new public washroom AND attached pickleball court, yet again redefining traditional public spaces and bringing innovative ideas to life.

Located just to the south of the Crossroads Community Garden and the East Village playgrounds, this vibrant addition to our public realm features all-gender, accessible washrooms alongside a fenced pickleball court with a tiered seating area and living green roof. The building provides an important public amenity and a colourful new space for outdoor recreation. Construction began in April 2024 and the building will open January 10, 2025.

Learn more about the inspiration for the design from the architects, Public City Architecture, on our blog.

BOUNCE & jump

A block away at the junction where 8 Avenue and 4 Street meet, a parking lot is living its best life. Known as The Bounce Games Park, this temporary pop-up games park has a full-sized basketball court for both regular and 3x3 games, ping-pong tables, hopscotch, four-square, and an art mural by artist duo MAUD. Drop by and remember to BYOG – bring your own gear.

Breathe & Celebrate

East Village’s smallest park, 5th Street Square, provides a little urban breathing room. The tree-lined plaza at the intersection of 7 Avenue and 5 Street SE invites anyone passing by to step off the street and take a breather. The multi-purpose square also hosts community gatherings like food truck events, seniors' programs and holiday festivities.

Celebration Square, or C-Square, is another East Village urban area providing some breathing space. Running along the C-train line at 4 Street and 7 Avenue SE, it can offer a midday sunshine break to folks in nearby offices or residents returning home from downtown. A curved stretch of wooden bench offers relaxed seating and a small stage has hosted musicians, yoga instructors and more.