Free Let's Play in the Park program returns to 14 Mississauga parks starting June 29

Mississauga families looking for free ways to keep their kids busy this summer can head to their neighbourhood park. The city's Let's Play in the Park program returns June 29 at 14 parks across Mississauga, offering supervised outdoor activities for children at no cost.

The program is a free, supervised drop-in service for children ages 6 to 12, according to a City of Mississauga news release. No registration is required, and spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, making it easy for families to join activities close to home.

Activities include organized games, sports, crafts, theme days and special events, all offered weather permitting. Sessions run from 9 a.m. to noon and again from 1 to 4 p.m., though dates and times vary by location. The program runs from June 29 through the end of summer.

All activities are led by qualified City staff who are First Aid certified and trained in the HIGH FIVE Principles of Healthy Child Development, a framework aimed at giving children positive, inclusive and safe recreation experiences.

The program is designed to give kids a chance to stay active, make new friends and spend time outdoors during the school break. The City says outdoor play helps children build confidence, creativity, independence and co-operation skills while strengthening social connections in their own neighbourhoods.

Because programming takes place in local parks across the city, the City describes it as an accessible option for families who may face barriers to joining organized activities, including newcomers to Mississauga who are looking to connect with their community and meet other families nearby.

Let's Play in the Park has been supported by the PepsiCo Canada Foundation since 2015, which helps keep the recreation programming free for families. The program is also backed by the Jerry Love Children's Fund, which has helped cover the costs of recreation and leadership programs for children from low-income families since 1985.

Parents can find location-specific schedules and program details at mississauga.ca/playinthepark. Questions can be directed to letsplayinthepark@mississauga.ca.

With the program spread across 14 neighbourhood parks, most Mississauga families will have a location within walking or short driving distance. Kids can drop in for a morning or afternoon session, or make the park part of their daily summer routine.