Lake Wilcox Park

COVID-19 Update: All amenities are open except the splash pad, which is closed for the season.

Lake Wilcox Park is a waterfront park that includes a playground, youth area and the Oak Ridges Community Centre.

Barbecuing, Tents and Digging Not Allowed 

For the safety and enjoyment of all, erecting tents and digging the ground are not permitted at Lake Wilcox Park. Barbecuing is also not permitted, effective September 1, 2020. These activities damage the grass, create tripping hazards and block sightlines.

Community Standards Officers at Lake Wilcox Park will enforce these rules. To reach the onsite Community Standards Officer, look for the phone number posted on the Lake Wilcox Park information boards. Residents may also call 905-771-0198 or email bylaw@richmondhill.ca to reach the Community Standards Division.

Groups of more than 25 people are not permitted at Lake Wilcox Park. If your group is larger than 25 guests, you must submit an Outdoor Event, Wedding or Picnic Permit Application. Recreation staff will then work with you to find an appropriate location for your event.

Pay Parking at Lake Wilcox Park

The City is implementing pay parking at Lake Wilcox Park on July 22. Richmond Hill residents can obtain a free permit in our Parking and By-law Portal. 

Pay parking will be in effect each year from April 1 to September 30. Parking will cost $4 per hour at the community centre and the north gravel lots. It will cost $5 per hour at the splash pad lot. All vehicles will require a valid permit while parked within the four parking lots that serve the park.   

Lake Wilcox Boardwalk Now Open! 

The boardwalk is a suspended 130 metre long and 3 metre wide crescent shaped pedestrian walkway constructed in Lake Wilcox that connects to the existing promenade. It is one of the final and preeminent features of the Lake Wilcox Park Master Plan.

This was a complex project. Strict environmental regulatory restrictions limited when ‘in-water’ construction could take place. The structure required drilling 20 steel piles into the lake bed to support the boardwalk, some as deep as 17 metres. It also required underwater welding with specialized scuba divers.

Please note that fishing is not permitted off the new pedestrian boardwalk.

Amenities

The master plan includes many design features:

• A waterfront promenade 
• A splash pad. Visit our Splash Pads webpage for details on times and seasonal openings. 
• Playground, washrooms, parking lot, seating and picnic area*  
• A youth area with a skate park, beach volleyball courts and a multi-sports court
• A boardwalk over the lake
• Redevelopment of the Canoe Club area - scheduled for 2021

Swimming at Lake Wilcox

Swimming is not allowed at Lake Wilcox because the water area is unsafe and not supervised. Safety issues include:

• high levels of bacteria
• sink holes
• sharp items
• broken glass

Tree Tour

Take a self-guided tree tour of Lake Wilcox Park located on the eastern shorelines of Lake Wilcox. The tour highlights 20 native tree species of Ontario and provides an opportunity to learn the unique characteristics of trees and why they are so important. Tour is approximately 45 minutes in length.