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A place where children of all ages and abilities will learn and connect with nature through outdoor play.

Imagine a garden designed for children and their families. A place where children can safely explore, climb, wander and play – to connect with nature and be inspired by its beauty.

The Niagara Parks Foundation, working closely with Niagara Parks, is embarking on an exciting journey to build Niagara’s first Children’s Garden. One that uses the power of nature to tell stories of the land and bring the wonders of the Niagara River corridor to life.

Through hands-on learning, children can explore and interact with each of its elements, learn about Niagara’s rich history, discover the native plants and animals that live within its ecosystems and cultivate a lifelong connection with nature.

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BENEFITS OF NATURE-BASED PLAY

By teaching children a love for nature today, they will be better equipped to protect our planet into the future.


With screentime on the rise and more time spent indoors, connecting kids with nature has never been more important. Children need a safe place to explore beyond their immediate surroundings, to ask questions, and develop fresh perspectives. 


Outdoor education has been proven to promote healthy outcomes across many areas of childhood development.

“All forms of environmentally responsible adult behavior can be linked back to a healthy dose of nature in childhood.”  

 — David Sobel, Author and Environmental Educator 

Nature-based learning supports: 

  • Physical health + wellness
  • Mental health + resilience 
  • Curiosity + exploration 
  • Focus + attention 
  • Creativity + imagination 
  • Cognitive development 
  • Social + emotional skills 
  • Teamwork + problem-solving

NIAGARA PARKS BOTANICAL GARDENS

The garden’s proposed location is a two-acre site at the renowned Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. Mature native trees and green space offer plenty of shaded areas for children and families to relax and connect to nature.


The location leverages proximity to the School of Horticulture and the Butterfly Conservatory, a major Niagara Parks attraction with 300,000 yearly visitors. The site offers convenient access to parking, public transit, washrooms and the Garden Café.

THE ELEMENTS

The garden will be a year-round hub of activity with sensory-rich experiences for children of all ages. Vibrant colours will spark imagination and hands-on learning will foster a lifelong interest in the outdoors.

This accessible timber causeway will wind its way up from the garden, offering visitors of all ages an elevated view of Niagara Parks’ tree canopy and the species it supports.

Niagara Parks is within the Carolinian Life Zone, which supports the most productive and endangered assortment of plant and animal species in Canada.

Inside children can calmly enjoy classroom-style activities and learn more about the early history of Niagara while the forest around it will share stories of native woodland trees and their importance to the health of the earth.

A natural water-play area replicating the rocky Niagara River rapids will share stories of Indigenous travelers and highlight how erosion has impacted the Niagara River, while sharing messages of water safety. 

This area showcases the unique geological wonders of Niagara with large, sloped slabs of limestone that mimic the stone at the base of the Niagara Gorge and the Escarpment, inviting all visitors to have a safe peek over the ledge.

By introducing an element of risk and exploration, children can climb, relax or play in a natural setting.

Layers of rock and replicas of fossils will allow children to pause in a significant moment of geological time. They'll discover 450 million years of natural history and how the power of Niagara Falls was able to cut through the rock over 15,000 years ago to create this geological landscape.

Located in the heart of the garden, this whimsical play space will be abuzz with activity while teaching children about the vital world of insects and pollinators.

This flexible space is dedicated to educational programming for school groups, summer programs and special events. One day kids could learn how to plant a tree or flower and the next, they’ll release Monarchs to learn about the life cycle of butterflies!

Here, kids will get to know the fish, amphibians and lifeforms that live within our wetlands! Wetlands are active ecosystems with native species that provide shelter and habitat for wildlife.

They’ll learn about all of the animals that live within the Niagara River corridor - beavers, geese, ducks, snapping turtles, weasels, gulls, river otters, blue herons, and more.

Spanning one end of Little Lake, this bridge will provide unique views into the water and provide playful opportunities to learn about light refraction and rainbows.