City of St. John’s – Recreation

Address: Crosbie Building, 1 Crosbie Place, St. John’s, NL A1C 5M2

Mandate:

The Recreation Division provides programs and services in an attempt to improve the quality of life of the citizens of St. John’s. The City of St. John’s offers its citizens a diverse selection of recreation programs. The City takes pride in its efforts to encourage community development, social activities and active living opportunities for all its citizens.

Target Population:

All ages.

Highlights of Programs/Services Offered:

• The Recreation Division works year to year in partnership with various neighborhood organizations in the delivery of summer recreation programs and activities. Children aged 5-12 are given the opportunity to participate in these programs during the summer months. The programs generally operate 6 to 8 weeks and offer a wide range of activities such as arts and crafts, outdoor activities, sports, music, drama, swimming and special events.
• Some of the programs offered for youth aged 12-18 include: Swimming, Outdoor Skills, Youth Leadership program, Girls Active Lifestyles (GALS), Youth Week, Youth Talent Show, Ball Hockey, Youth Expeditions, Junior Lifeguard program, etc.

Community Centres

Please email recreation@stjohns.ca for information.

• Paul Reynolds Community Centre: (709) 576-8631
  • Located 35 Carrick Drive. Includes a gymnasium, 25-metre lane swimming pool, therapeutic warm water leisure pool, two waterslides, hydraulic lift and water wheelchairs, pool viewing area, fully accessible family change rooms, adult size change table, universal change rooms, children’s area, and senior’s area.
• H.G.R. Mews Community Centre: (709) 576-8499
  • Located 40 Mundy Pond Road. Includes racquetball courts, gymnasium, multi-purpose room for meetings and small gatherings, 25-metre swimming pool with diving board, pool viewing area, co-ed steam room/dry sauna, wheelchair accessible, pool lift, chairs and ample parking.
  • Please note: We are currently constructing a new facility to replace the H.G.R. Mews Centre. To learn more, go to EngageStJohns.ca.
• Shea Heights Community Centre: (709) 576-1023
  • Located 130 Linegar Avenue is available for rentals to host birthday parties, baby and wedding showers, and meetings. Amenities include: multipurpose room, kitchen and wheelchair accessibility.
• The Kilbride Lions Community Centre: (709) 368-0250
  • Located off Fahey Street. Available to host birthday parties, baby and wedding showers and meetings. Amenities include: multi-purpose room, kitchen and wheelchair accessibility.
• Southlands Community Centre: (709) 576-8499 or 8631
  • Located 40 Teakwood Drive. Is available for rentals to host birthday parties, baby and wedding showers and meetings. Amenities include two multi-purpose rooms, board room, a kitchen and wheelchair accessibility.
• Rotary Sunshine Park Chalet (709) 576-8499
  • Located off Thorburn Road. Can sleep 24 people. It includes full kitchen with dishwasher, and large patio deck. The chalet is located with outdoor fields and an unsupervised swimming/beach area. Please click Rotary ‘Sunshine’ Park Chalet to view more photos or to complete an application. Click here to complete an application.
• Kenmount Terrace Community Centre:
  • Located at 85 Messenger Drive. Is available for rentals, birthday parties etc. Amenities include a full-sized gymnasium, multipurpose room a kitchen and wheelchair accessibility.

Outdoor Entertainment Facilities

• Cabot 500 Theatre
  • This outdoor facility, located in Bowring Park, can host many events from theatrical productions to musical performances and can accommodate up to 750 people.
• Prince Edward Plaza
  • Outdoor stage facility located on George Street. Can host many events from musical performances to promotional events. Contact us at 709-570-2186 or email specialevents@stjohns.ca.
• Winter Activity Centre Pippy Park
  • located in the Pippy Park campground. The campground loops are transformed into groomed trails suitable for both classic cross-country and skate skiing, as well as snowshoeing. Trails are lit for evening use.
  • classic cross-country skis and snowshoe equipment rentals at North Bank Lodge
  • Call the seasonal Snow Line at 709-737-3651 (early January to late March), for the updated hours of operation based on trail conditions.

Skate Parks 

• Northwest Rotary Skate Park
  • The Skate Park is located in Mundy Pond Park (off Blackler Ave) and offers bowl and street skating/riding obstacles.
• Kenmount Terrace Skate Park
  • This urban skatepark is located at 85 Messenger Drive. It features a number of street skating/ riding obstacles
• The City currently has six outdoor modular (portable) skate parks:
  • Bowring Park (next to swimming pool)
  • Chafe’s Lane Park, Chafe’s Lane 
  • Goulds (behind the Fire Department on the Main Road, next to the basketball court)
  • Shea Heights Community Centre, 130 Linegar Avenue
  • Southlands (40 Teakwood Drive)
  • Quidi Vidi Lake (North side of Lake off The Boulevard)

Swimming Pools

• For schedules and admission requirements for each City of St. John’s swimming pool, please click
  • Paul Reynolds Community Centre Indoor Swimming Pool 
    • Contact (709) 576-8631
  • H.G.R. Mews Community Centre Indoor Swimming Pool 
    • Contact (709) 576-8499
  • Bowring Park Outdoor Swimming Pool (Open seasonally beginning July 2 for 8 weeks)
    • Contact: (709) 576-7671
  • Bannerman Park Outdoor Swimming Pool (Open seasonally beginning July 2 for 8 weeks)
    • Contact us at (709) 576-7671 or email us at recreation@stjohns.ca. 

Sports Fields and Courts

• There are:
  • 17 Tennis courts, 15 basketball courts,
  • 17 soccer fields, 15 softball fields and 6 baseball field
  • one Bowring Lawn Bowling located at Waterford Bridge Road
  • and one Wishingwell Football field, Empire Avenue
• Contact Recreation@stjohns.ca  

Dog Parks: 

• We have nine dog parks in the City of St.John’s 

The Loop

• An outdoor ice-skating trail
• Families with children, young adults, seniors, community and service groups, and others all skate together for free.
• Call the Loopline at 733-LOOP (5667) to learn if it is open.