Families visiting Niagara Falls will soon have another child-friendly destination to explore.
Recently, Niagara Parks announced that a four-acre children’s garden is in the works for one of Canada’s best-known tourist destinations. Created in collaboration with the Niagara Parks Foundation, the new garden is intended to serve as an inclusive space where children of all ages and abilities can “safely explore, climb, wander, play and connect to nature.”
The Big Rock
In a news release, Niagara Parks said MT Planners and +VG Architects have been selected to design the Children’s Garden, with construction slated to begin this fall at the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens.
The $15 million project is the first children’s garden of this scale in Ontario, Niagara Parks said.
The new park will include 12 interactive zones, which will help children discover Niagara’s rich history and the native plants and animals that live within its ecosystems.
The Gorge
“The design concepts reimagine the Niagara River corridor through the eyes of a child, promoting physical and mental wellness among children and aiming to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders,” the news release reads.
Included in the 12 zones are a tree-top walk, a cabin, a water play area replicating Niagara rapids, a geological area, a fossil zone, a pollinator-themed area, wetlands and a bridge.
The Root Zone
“Completing the detailed designs for the 12 interactive zones within the Children’s Garden will bring us significantly closer to achieving our vision to build this four-acre, interactive living classroom that will inspire children and their families to love and protect our planet today and well into the future,” said Deborah Whitehouse, chair of the Niagara Parks Foundation, in a statement.
The Hive
The garden is one of several plans in the works to enhance the local and international appeal of Niagara Falls.
Late last year, the Ontario government launched its new Destination Niagara Strategy, a multi-billion-dollar plan to make one of Canada’s premier tourist hot spots even more of a destination for people at home and abroad. The strategy, which mentions the ongoing conversion of the historic Toronto Power Generating Station into Niagara Falls’ first five-star hotel, also includes the possible creation of a new theme park, the potential redevelopment of the Ontario Power Generating Station, a new observation wheel, and the revitalization of the Niagara Parks Marina.
The Hive
The plan also suggests increasing casino options by potentially “expanding the market to multiple world-class casinos, which could attract new hotels, entertainment and top-tier dining options.”
The strategy also suggests building on the region’s reputation as a wine and culinary destination, as it is home to more than 100 vineyards and is Canada’s largest wine-producing region. A 2025 news release also mentions investing in arts and culture in the region, particularly the long-standing Shaw Festival.
Tree Top Walk
Earlier this year, the province announced plans to close and redevelop the Royal George Theatre in Niagara-on-the-Lake, a Shaw Festival location that opened during the Second World War. The revitalization, slated to cost about $35 million, is expected to take about three years to complete.
The strategy also includes plans to improve and expand transportation options, including expanding the QEW in Niagara, twinning the Garden City Skyway, continuing to increase GO service to the region and leveraging the Niagara District Airport by issuing a request for proposals to improve air access.
A fundraising council has been established to support the Children’s Garden project.
The garden will be in the Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens at 2565 Niagara River Parkway, Niagara Falls.
Learn more here.
Renderings courtesy of Niagara Parks
With files from Karen Longwell, YourCityWithIN.com
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