Picnic spaces can be booked online 3-45 days in advance, between the Saturday of the May long-weekend and the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. Please use the Contact Us Form if you have any questions. |
Designated picnic site areas are available to the public at no charge on a first-come, first-serve basis, if they are not already booked.
However, if you want to make sure you have a space for your gathering, it is in your best interest to book a space and obtain a rental contract. This ensures that you are guaranteed a picnic space to enjoy the park.
Locations can be used for birthdays, bridal or baby showers, corporate meetings, City programming, and more.
Picnic Rental Terms & Conditions
Picnic spaces can be booked between three to 45 days in advance between the Saturday of the May long-weekend and the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. Payment is due at the time of booking; we do not place any holds on picnic spaces.
For example: if you would like to hold your event on July 8, the earliest you will be able to book is May 24.
Rental contracts are issued as confirmation of a booking and outline the Terms of Use.
Renters must clean up after themselves at the end of their rental and leave the space as they found it.
Decorating is allowed; however, no tacs, nails, etc. can be used including anything that could cause damage to the facility.
Food and drink are allowed, including catering, so long as all spills are cleaned up.
Staff do their best to notify the public of an incoming rental. Renters are highly encouraged to bring their rental contract with them should they need to provide it for any reason. Signage on-site states the space may be reserved.
General Park & Beach Rules
Please see below the summarized by-laws that outline the general rules of all City of Sarnia Parks. More details can be found in the Parks By-Law. Some exceptions may apply to special events and will require written permission in a contract.
Anyone found to be violating the below by-laws may be ticketed and/or removed from the park.
Picnics and Other Permits:
- Exclusive use is granted only to those with a paid and approved rental contract within the constraints of the details of said contract as issued by the City of Sarnia.
- Any person may be required to show proof of said rental contract to any City of Sarnia employee.
Animals (Wildlife and Pets):
- No animals aside from dogs can be brought to a park.
- Dogs must be always kept on-leash, except within a designated off-leash dog park (Germain Park).
- Dogs are not allowed on any city beach.
- Dog faeces or “poop” must be immediately picked up and disposed of in a designated garbage can or taken home to be disposed of.
Garbage and Waste:
- No garbage or waste of any kind can be left anywhere in any city park, beach, or body of water.
- It is requested that individuals bring their garbage home to dispose of, to follow a “Leave No Trace” model. If this is not possible, then garbage must be disposed of in a designated waste or recycle can/bin.
- Cooking grease from BBQs and/or any food waste must be disposed of properly by taking it home or disposing of it in a designated waste or recycle can/bin.
BBQs and Fires:
- Residential BBQs that can be carried to a green space are allowed.
- Staff will NOT unlock gates to unload, and vehicles are NOT permitted to drive off a roadway/parking lot to unload.
- No commercial or industrial BBQs are allowed.
- BBQs and/or cooking is NOT allowed on any public beach space.
- Cooking grease from BBQs and/or any food waste must be disposed of properly by taking it home or disposing of it in a designated waste or recycle can/bin. Absolutely no grease from food waste can be dumped in any park space or in any beach space including in surrounding beach grass, etc.
- No fires of any kind are allowed in any park or beach space, unless written within a permit and in a designated fire pit.
Vehicles and Parking:
- No vehicles larger than a standard “pick-up” type vehicle are allowed on a park roadway.
- No driving any vehicle on any area except the designated roadways that are open to the public.
- Vehicles driven on any green space without written permission will be fined and individuals will be responsible for any damage or repair fees to the parkland.
- No parking on the roadways, or in a way that blocks traffic.
- No parking on any green space, or where it is not a designated parking area.
- No parking after park hours (midnight-5am).
Recreational Vehicles (Water and Land):
- No water vehicles of any kind are allowed on Lake Chipican.
- No motorized water vehicles are permitted close to the beach shore, or where people may be swimming, including but not limited to the designated lifeguarded section of Canatara Beach.
- No camping is allowed in any park space, whether it be in a tent or a vehicle of any kind.
- No camping is allowed in any parking space within a city park.
- No recreational vehicles including RVs, Trailers Campers, etc. are allowed in the park for any reason.
Alcohol:
- No person shall have in any alcoholic beverages in any park space, unless an event/rental permit with an AGCO Special Occasion Permit has been obtained.
- Any Police or By-Law Officer or employee may exclude and/or remove any person who is disorderly and/or drunken.
Decorating/Posters:
- No posters, notices, advertisements, etc. are allowed to be posted in any city park, unless written permission is obtained within a permit.
- No such items can be nailed or fastened to any park space that may cause damage.
Disorderly Behaviour:
- Any Police or By-Law Officer or employee may exclude and/or remove any person who is disorderly and/or drunken.
- Any Police or By-Law Officer or employee may exclude and/or remove any person who is in violation of the Parks By-Law.
Please refer to the Parks By-law and/or any other applicable City of Sarnia Laws and By-Laws for more information.
Picnic Spaces Amenities & Fees
Facility Details & Sections | Related Links | Amenities | Capacity | Fee 2024 (Excluding insurance) |
Canatara Park: | Map of Park | |||
Beach Pavilion | Photo | – 25 picnic tables + 1 accessible picnic table – Hydro is available – Washrooms are nearby – 1 BBQ Pit nearby (Not included) | 125 People | $8.75 +HST per hour (3 hour min.) |
Area 1 Pavilion | Photo | – 24 picnic tables + 2 accessible picnic tables – Hydro is available – Washrooms are nearby – 1 BBQ Pit nearby (Not included) | 125 People | $8.75 +HST per hour (3 hour min.) |
Area 2 Space (Uncovered) | – 24 picnic tables | 140 People | $5 +HST per hour (3 hour min.) | |
Area 3 Space (Uncovered) | – 24 picnic tables | 140 People | $5 +HST per hour (3 hour min.) | |
Area 4 Space (Uncovered) | – 27 picnic tables + 1 accessible picnic table – Washrooms are nearby | 140 People | $5 +HST per hour (3 hour min.) | |
Mike Weir Park: | Park Map | |||
Main Pavilion | Photo | – Hydro is available (4 outlets) – Washrooms are NOT nearby | 100 People | $8.75 +HST per hour (3 hour min.) |
Cricket Club Shelter | Photo | – Hydro is NOT available – Washrooms are nearby | 30 People | $5.50 +HST per hour (3 hour min.) |
Kenwick Park | Map of Park | |||
Kenwick Pavilion | – Hydro is available (2 outlets) – Washrooms are nearby – 2 BBQ Pits nearby (Not included) | 100 People | $8.75 +HST per hour (3 hour min.) | |
Wildwood Park | Map of Park | |||
North Picnic Shelters (Lakeside) | Photo | – 6 Picnic tables (long) – No hydro – No walkway access – Washrooms are NOT nearby | 40 People | $5.50 +HST per hour (3 hour min.) |
South Picnic Shelter (Near Library) | Photo | – 2 Picnic tables (standard) – No hydro – No walkway access – Washrooms are nearby | 30 People | $5.50 +HST per hour (3 hour min.) |
Other Park Spaces | ||||
Clearwater Park Picnic Shelter | – Washrooms are nearby *Bookable between 9am-7pm | 30 People | $5.50 +HST per hour (3 hour min.) |
Booking a Picnic Site
If you wish to book a picnic site, please visit our Recreation Facility Rentals Page.