There are a number parks in existence in Riverside South.

Claudette Cain Park is located on the banks of the Rideau River, across River Road from Riverside South. The park can be accessed via a signalized pedestrian crossing. This park has a soccer field, many walking trails and a variety of play structures. There is also access to the Rideau River waterfront.

Four Seasons Park is located on Spratt Road between Earl Armstrong Road and Shoreline. This park has a number of play structures, a water spray area, a baseball diamond, and a skating rink and toboggon hill in the winter.

The third park is adjacent to the Rideauview Community Centre and contains a number of play structures and a grassy field.

Mountain Meadows Park is located along Spratt Road between the two Canyon Walk intersections and beside the location of L'École élémentaire catholique Riverside-Sud. This park has a number of play structures, a water splash area, a soccer field and a skating rink in the winter.

The yet to be named park on Spratt Road adjacent to Steve MacLean Public School is currently under development. It will have a number of play structures, a soccer field, a multi-use paved area and boarded rink.

According to city by-laws, all our parks and pathways currently require dogs to be on-leash at all times. We will be working with the city to look at our parks to consider re-designating an area for dogs to be allowed off-leash, under voice control. In the interest of keeping Riverside South beautiful, we would like to remind dog owners that it's their responsibility to pick up after their pets.

We would also like to remind pet owners to refrain from putting waste in garbage bins near playgrounds so that the playground experience remains a pleasant one. City by-laws require pet waste to be taken home and properly disposed of in the toilet or home garbage. The city can fine dog owners who violate either the leash or pet waste by-laws. For more information, visit: http://www.ottawa.ca/city_services/bylaws/violation/animal_care/1_2_en.shtml

Ravines are no place for yard waste. Also in the interest of keeping our community beautiful, we would like to remind residents that it is illegal to dump yard waste such as sod, soil, and grass clippings in the ravines, vacant lots or along pathways. Contact the city at 580-2400 for more information about disposing of yard waste or visit: http://ottawa.ca/city_services/recycling_garbage/index_en.html

We would like to acknowledge the New Beginnings Church for adopting all the parks in Riverside South under the city Adopt-a-park program. For those wishing to know more about the adopt-a-park or adopt-a-roadway programs, visit the city web site at: http://ottawa.ca/city_services/environment/community/adopt_en.html

For more on Ottawa parks, visit their web site at: http://ottawa.ca/residents/parks_recreation/parks/index_en.html

The parks and green-spaces in the Riverside South area are linked through various water pathways to the Rideau River. As such, we fall within the watershed area under the jurisdiction of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority (RVCA).

The Rideau Valley Conservation Authority has all kinds of environmental information on its website, including press releases, a bi-monthly environmental newsletter called Around the Rideau, and information about local conservation areas, special events, river education materials and more. Anyone who would like to receive personal copies of either the newsletter or our press releases can do so by sending their e-mail address to postmaster@rvca.ca.

More information on the RVCA can be found at http://www.rvca.ca.