(Barrie, ON) Residents are invited to enjoy the City of Barrie’s waterfront, beaches, parks, and downtown this summer. Here are some helpful reminders to prepare for a safe and fun season ahead:
Beaches
Residents and visitors are reminded of the following when enjoying the City’s beaches:
- Beaches at Centennial and Johnson’s will officially open for the season on June 26, with lifeguards on duty. Lifeguard services will conclude on August 28 at Johnson’s Beach and on September 4 at Centennial Beach.
- Lifeguards are on duty from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily at Centennial Beach and Johnson’s Beach. Signs are posted at the beaches behind each lifeguard chair to communicate when lifeguards are on duty. Minet’s Point Beach and Tyndale Beach do not have lifeguards.
- Parents/guardians are reminded that children require direct supervision at the beach; always practice water safety and be diligent.
- The City offers the personal flotation device (PFD) loaner program at both Centennial Beach and Johnson’s Beach. Beach visitors can borrow a PFD from the lifeguard office at no charge when lifeguards are on duty.
- To ensure the beaches are safe for swimming, weekly water samples are analyzed by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit (SMDHU). Warnings are posted at designated swimming beaches when bacterial levels exceed provincial guidelines. Check the SMDHU beach water testing results before heading to the beach.
- Please be respectful and clean up your litter. If garbage cans are full, please take your garbage with you.
- Tents or sunshades are not permitted at waterfront beaches or parks unless they are supported by no more than one pole and have no more than one wall or side.
- Dogs are not permitted on City beaches.
- Beaches are smoke and vape free.
Parks & Trails
Visit barrie.ca/parks to view the full list of Barrie’s parks and their amenities, including playgrounds, soccer fields, baseball diamonds, tennis courts, and pickleball courts. Dogs must be leashed at all times in City parks and on trails, aside from Dog Off-Leash Recreation Areas.
Waterfront Parking
A digital waterfront parking permit is required for Barrie residents to park for free at specific waterfront areas. All resident digital permits have been extended until December 31, 2028. No action is required if you already have a digital permit. If residents don’t have a digital waterfront parking permit, they can visit barrie.ca/WaterfrontParking for instructions on how to apply. Applications can be done in the HotSpot app or residents can apply in person at select City facilities.
From June 15 to September 15, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 'No Parking Except by Permit' applies to parking within spillover waterfront parking areas, which are areas within walking distance (approximately 500 metres) of specific waterfront locations. Only the digital waterfront parking permit is accepted in these areas during this time:
- on-street parking near Centennial Beach (65 Lakeshore Drive)
- nearby on-street parking & parking lot at Dock Road Park (200, 204, 210 Dock Road)
- parking lot at The Gables Park (250 Tollendal Mill Road)
- on-street parking near Johnson's Beach (2 Johnson Street)
- on-street parking near Minet's Point Park (10 Brennan Avenue), including White Oaks Road
- on-street parking near Tyndale Park (45 Tyndale Road)
- on-street parking near Wilkins Park (121 Crimson Ridge Road)
Signs identify areas where the restrictions are in place. For a full list and the map of waterfront parking areas, visit barrie.ca/parking.
Downtown Events
For information on Canada Day events across the city and Barrie’s Canada Day fireworks show, visit barrie.ca/CanadaDay.
The following events are being held this summer in downtown Barrie, led by the BIA:
- Troubadour Festival - free summer concert series at Meridian Place
- Open Air Dunlop - a section of Dunlop Street closed to traffic on select dates, welcoming pedestrians to explore local shops, patios, and community activations
