Parks and Playgrounds
The Parks Department is starting to prepare for the Winter season. The gates will be closed at all park drives and some garbage cans will be removed from city parks.
All parks are not maintained throughout the Winter, please use caution.
Southside Park - Where Our City Blooms
Southside Park is the largest park within Woodstock, and it began in 1909. It is home to many beautiful gardens, walking trails, sports fields and other features. To see the additional features of this park click on the features below. You can also learn more about how Southside Park came to be, click on the history tab.
Leisure Activity Features |
This Park has many different features for the whole family.
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Recreational Features |
There are many different sports fields to enjoy.
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History |
In 1909 the Woodstock Parks Commission held a meeting to secure land for parks. They had to decide between a piece of land to the North along the Thames River or a swamp area to the South. When the Canadian Pacific Railways refused to allow access across the tracks on Wellington Street the south location was the clear winner. The Parks commission had given the new parks committee the power to buy all available land. The City had already owned 35 acres but more land was needed square off the proposed park. Beginning the Work on Creating Southside Park 1913
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WW1 War Memorial Arch |
The arch was built as a WW1 Memorial. Constructed in 1925, the arch was built on two rubble stone pillars supporting a concrete beam. The beam has two lines of inscription, the first 1914-18, and the second: Truth - Duty - Valor. The structure started to deteriorate over the years. It had been damaged by cars and snowplows hitting the twin pillars. Rust had penetrated the beam because it was built with uncoated rebar, which was the standard at the time. Pieces of the beam were starting to fall on the road below, becoming dangerous for those passing under. In 2007 the City decided to start the restoration process. That same year the Veterans Affairs announced they would contribute up to $25,000 towards the project. A new location was decided on to prevent any future damage. The arch would be rebuilt 5 meters north of its current location. To try and stop any impeded visibility issues for vehicles entering or leaving the park. Construction began late 2009, it took many phases, and was completed by Mississauga-based Roof Tile Management. Using a 40-ton crane a crew removed the beam and took it back to their headquarters. There they determined that it was too deteriorated to save, and needed to construct a new beam. While that was being built the next phase began; dismantling the stone pillars. The stone pillars were the most difficult part of the restoration. Each of the thousands of stones were numbered and photographed before deconstruction started. That way they could be placed back in their original location. Even with all that effort it wasn't possible, each stone varied in shape and configuration. The new foundations were constructed and the rebuild began. Once the pillars reached 15 feet in height the new beam was put into place. The company attempted to rebuild the beam as close to the original as they could. With the beam now in place the pillars were finished and now stood 22 feet high. They capped them off with copper roofs to protect it from the elements. ![]() WW1 War Memorial Arch - 1974
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Park Rentals
You can request to book many of the cities outdoor facilities, for weddings, family reunions, picnics or photography sessions for under 100 people. Click the button below to fill out the request form, please note it may take 5-10 business days for a response to your email. The Parks Department is currently experiencing a high volume of requests.
If you would like to have an event with more than 100 people please call the Parks Department at 519-539-2382 ext. 4101 to speak about options.
Rental Fees |
Outdoor Area Rental Fees:
Special Event Fees:
All rentals require $2 million liability insurance coverage which can be obtained through the City at a cost. |
Information and Pricing |
Information
Pricing
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