Commissioners Park image

Commissioners Park

Tourist attraction Park City park

One of the Most Reviewed Parks in (Old) Ottawa


Address

Preston Street and, Queen Elizabeth Driveway, Ottawa, ON K1S 4N7, Canada

Website

ccn-ncc.gc.ca

Contact

+1 613-239-5000

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (2.5K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Friday: Open 24 hours
  • Saturday: Open 24 hours
  • Sunday: Open 24 hours
  • Monday: Open 24 hours
  • Tuesday: Open 24 hours
  • Wednesday: Open 24 hours
  • Thursday: Open 24 hours

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: park (24) tulips (19) festival (18) beautiful (15) tulip (14) Tulip (13) walk (12) lake (10) great (10) Ottawa (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Tanmay P. 11 months ago on Google • 71 reviews
    Commissioners Park in Ottawa is a must visit during the Tulip festival. This was my first visit and it was astounding to see so many shades of tulips in one place. Photos can't do justice to the indescribably beautiful scenery on display. It is a dream for all photography enthusiasts be it amateurs or pros. Understanding the historical reason for the close friendship between Canada and Netherlands was also quite interesting. Keep at least 2-3 hours to click tons of photos and stroll leisurely across the park.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Seeing the world In a different w. 2 years ago on Google
    Commissioners park is a must see location to see beautiful tulips and other seasonal flowers. The tulip flower has special meaning as Canada, Ottawa, provided safe haven to the Netherlands royalty during German occupation in WWII. Also in the park you will see the Man with two hats, this too is a sign of appreciation and friendship between Canada and the Netherlands. The monument has symbolic duality meaning with the two hats, such as; celebration and war, happiness and sorrow. You can also enjoy looking out at Dows Lake. If you like my photos, reviews or videos give them a tulips thumbs up
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sharath Poikayil S. 1 year ago on Google
    Loved it! Calm and laid back. Its $14 for a day at Dow's lake parking, but its money well spent.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Barbara P. 1 year ago on Google
    Went for the tulip garden displays. Beautiful, even in the rain. Terrific stories of how the tulip festival came to be with story boards of historical events between Canada and the Netherlands. Interesting story board of war brides and how they ended up meeting their spouses. Several food trucks and tulip vendors also in the park.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Dave S. 1 year ago on Google
    Here for the Tulip festival 2022 🌷 the weather is beautiful but I think a little hard on the tulips as they are mostly past peak and some even faded. We went back at night for the pollinator UV experience and I didn't even take pictures it was a joke. Mostly an advertisement. Not here to stop people from taking it in, our walk by the water was incredible and with a full moon 😊🌕 the wife says we should have played the Tulip bingo, and also we should have gone on the haunted walk (Tulip edition).
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Parvinder S. 11 months ago on Google • 285 reviews
    Tulips everywhere. What a sight. Majestic. We come here every year during this time and always love it. Park has nice proximity to the lake, restaurant, food trucks are available as well. Parking can be little challenging but you can park on streets as well. Kudos to the mgmt and park maintenance guys for keeping tulips in such great shape and awesome patterns. You can have a nice walk around the park and love the look of flowers and get yourself clicked as well. Just a walk away from little Italy where you can enjoy other restaurants as well. Have a nice day peeps.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Lermi A. 11 months ago on Google • 140 reviews
    Follow the winding pathways, and take in the explosion of colour in gardens filled with over 250,000 tulips. In summer, the tulips are replaced by thousands of annual flowers, which create beautiful scenic views with Dows Lake in the background. Located at the corner of Preston Street and the Queen Elizabeth Driveway, Commissioners Park extends over 8.95 hectares. It was built from the 1920s to 1950s on the site of a former lumberyard owned by J.R. Booth.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Kinjal M. 10 months ago on Google • 76 reviews
    We visited the Commissioners Park during the Tulip Festival. It was very well organized to handle the events and crowds. There were various booths selling flowers and bulbs, handmade items, etc., lemonade stands, ice cream trucks, and food trucks. The lake across the park gives a good view and great vibe to the park! There was a movie being played which is a great summer activity.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 JALDHI P. 11 months ago on Google • 28 reviews
    Great park. Must visit for Tulip festival. The flowers have varieties and are very colourful. It is very busy right now, but can go on weekdays for calm and can get more pictures with those beautiful Tulips.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Zee M. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful park to walk thru, tulips are everywhere. Next to daws lake in the middle of the city . Takes to some nice houses near buy if you like to look at houses.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Elizabeth “Liz” B. 2 years ago on Google
    Beautiful. Gorgeous. Open space. People often come in spring to see the tulips but there are always seasonal flowers in bloom (spring-fall). In these times (COVID-19), this park is a fantastic place to bring lawn chairs and have a social distance gathering or simply meet a friend in an open air space. I bring my dog here all the time to take a nice loop around. Be aware there are often people who have their dogs off leash (even though it is a on leash park) so be vigilant. In my case my dog is not fond of other dogs and I've had to yell to have people's "friendly" dog controlled or, worse, pick my dog up in avoidance.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ross B. 8 months ago on Google • 299 reviews
    It's a beautiful park, no matter the time of year. In the spring, you can see myriad tulips. In the summer, there are lots of boats in Dow's Lake. In the fall, the trees give you beautiful autumn colours. In the winter, you can skate on the lake.

  • 5/5 Celtie 1 year ago on Google
    It was great. We went here for the annual Canadian tulip festival this weekend. Got to see Princess Margriet. The tulips are beautiful, so many colours! Commissioners Park is wonderful. There is a statue here called The Man With The Two Hats. You can take a walk along the side of the lake and there is a restaurant overlooking Dow’s Lake it was very busy inside. Nice spots on the grass to sit and bird watch or squirrel watch if you’d like. Very good place for picture taking. Thank you.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Catalan n. 1 year ago on Google
    Went there for the Tulip festival and it was amazing to see all those flowers. Enjoy the images.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 ali m. 1 year ago on Google
    Beautiful place, clean and gorgeous environment. Tulips festival was awesome.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ankur M. 10 months ago on Google • 134 reviews
    As a passionate traveler and lover of nature's beauty, I had the utmost pleasure of attending the Ottawa Tulip Festival, and I must say, it was an enchanting experience that left me in awe! First and foremost, I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Commissioner Park and the entire team behind the festival for organizing such a spectacular display of tulips and promoting the rich history behind these mesmerizing blooms. The sheer variety and exuberance of tulips on display were truly breathtaking! The vivid colors, ranging from vibrant reds to soft pastels, created a picturesque landscape that felt like something straight out of a fairy tale. It was an absolute treat for the eyes and an excellent opportunity for any photography enthusiast to capture unforgettable moments. The well-maintained pathways and the park's serene ambiance made strolling through the festival a joyous experience. The staff members were incredibly friendly and helpful, providing information about the different tulip species and the significance of the festival. The cultural and historical significance of the Ottawa Tulip Festival, rooted in the Netherlands' gift of tulips to Canada, added an extra layer of depth and meaning to the event. It was heartwarming to learn about the enduring friendship between our countries and how this beautiful tradition has been cherished for decades. I visited during the peak bloom period, and I could sense the love and effort put into curating this remarkable event. The organizers' dedication to ensuring that visitors have an unforgettable time was evident in every detail. Overall, the Ottawa Tulip Festival is an absolute must-visit for locals and tourists alike. It offers a delightful escape into a world of vibrant colors and natural beauty, leaving you with a sense of peace and wonder. If you're planning a trip to Ottawa in the spring, make sure to mark your calendar for this incredible festival! Thank you once again to Commissioner Park and everyone involved in making this event a resounding success. I can't wait to return and experience the magic of the Ottawa Tulip Festival all over again! It took 2 hrs to see all varieties of tulips at one place. There was also movie show at 2pm. Poutine and tornato was awesome. Lemonade and Ice cream truck was available to get instant energy in this hot summer...

  • 5/5 Barbara L. 11 months ago on Google • 127 reviews
    I went there to see the tulips, and it was beautiful. The only inconvenience was that there were no parking spaces anywhere near to the park, and it was crazy crowded. I had to park my car almost 2km away and walk. It was no big deal, but the traffic was also terrible when I left. Well maintained park, but with the tulip festival, they could have improved the infrastructure for people, especially the ones with special needs or seniors. All in all, it was a nice, beautiful day, sunny, and a nice day out of Montreal.

  • 5/5 Maryam T. 11 months ago on Google • 78 reviews
    The park is great, great location near downtown, beautiful trees. It has picnic tables. During hte tulip festifal there were portable washrooms and food truck but I don't think they will be there always. Visited during tulip festival 2023, the weather was cilly but it was nice to see all the tulip again!

  • 5/5 Sharmin A. 11 months ago on Google • 15 reviews
    Follow @sharminsoller on Instagram for more. The park is in full bloom, perfect place for a bike, run, to take your family and enjoy one of the best festivals Ottawa has to offer which is tulip festival. Best location is near queen Elizabeth and lake view terrace, has two gorgeous houses in the back. The gardeners take the time to arrange the tulips in amazing displays. The lake is right by and there’s many seats to sit and enjoy and people fish in it all the time. So much to do and enjoy nearby as well.

  • 5/5 Danielle R. 11 months ago on Google
    Absolutely breathtaking tulip festival by Lake Dow, friendly people, numerous families and pets, board walk to stroll by, kid train ride, ambiance music and surprising butter chicken poutine to try out ! ...lots and lots of people taking pictures everywhere obviously enchanted by the scenery . Thank you Netherlands for that generous gift of 100 000 tulips years ago !

  • 4/5 Dijish J. 1 year ago on Google
    Went there for Tulips festival. But didn't rise up to the expectations. Niagara tulips is the best.😇

  • 5/5 Vin 1 year ago on Google
    Visited this place during the Tulip festival and it was absolutely beautiful! Very clean and well managed place where my family had a great time!

  • 5/5 Bao N. 1 year ago on Google
    Just dropped by yesterday with my parents, and we all loved the place. Very clean area, and lots of space for walking or biking or other outdoor activities. The Rideau Canal looks fresh and beautiful. Will revisit in the next 2 weeks for Tulips Festival 2022

  • 4/5 Rick T. 1 year ago on Google
    Check out the tulip festival in May. So well done. Perfect park for relaxing & having a good day in great surroundings.

  • 5/5 Jing L. 2 years ago on Google
    One of the most photographed scenes in Ottawa! Large greeneries next to Dows Lake, home to the annual TulipFest. This public park is well maintained and free to all. Multi-functional trail is located next to the Rideau Canal. Beautiful and accessible to everyone. Highly recommend!

  • 5/5 Mad L. 2 years ago on Google
    I came here for the first time recently with my love and it was fantastic. Beautiful Autumn day and an amazing little nature pocket in the midst of the city 💓

  • 4/5 Scott P. 2 years ago on Google
    Lovely sunny Saturday. My wife and I had lunch at the Heart and Crown pub off Preston, then went to the park by Dow's Lake to walk and sightsee. enjoyable experience.

  • 5/5 Pedro R. 2 years ago on Google
    I had a great walk in this park. A nice view of the lake with a lot of tranquility. Great outdoor activity for those who enjoy nature.

  • 5/5 Rawnok Alam B. 2 years ago on Google
    Amazing park with views of lake and kids friendly. A great place to walk, relax, take pictures and enjoying yourselves.

  • 5/5 Marty 2 years ago on Google
    An obviously gorgeous area to walk/bike/run/sit. Less traffic early morning and weekdays! Tulips are in full swing this year and are so delightful, a wide range of colours and all over the area of Dow's Lake.

  • 5/5 Dana M. 2 years ago on Google
    First time visiting the Tulip Festival!!! It is very beautiful and lots of tulip. I visited on a Sunday at noon and it was packed. If you like flowers then here is heaven for you. Parking is $14 for a day. There are ice cream trucks at every Corner but make sure you have cash with you (they only accept cash).


Call +1 613-239-5000 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Pets
    • ✓️ Dogs allowed
  • Activities
    • ✓️ Hiking
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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