General Information

Located in North end St. Catharines, Jaycee Park is the city's largest horticultural park and features some of the area's most beautiful flower gardens.  It's an excellent place to walk and take in the scenery.  The west end of the park is filled with the remains of the historical Third Welland Canal which operated from 1881 to 1932.  The main feature here is a very well preserved lock 2 from the canal, but further exploring is strongly encouraged.

Historical

The land used to create Jaycee Gardens was originally part of the Third Welland Canal and it was here that ships, traveling south to Lake Erie, left Martindale Pond (the waterway at the west end of the park) and started their inland journey across the north end of St. Catharines. Built in the 1870's, the Third Welland Canal stopped being used in the 1930's. The original channel of the canal, running the length of Jaycee Park, was used briefly as a landfill in the 1960's until the land was purchase by the City of St.Catharines in the 1975 and turned into a park.

Adjacent Land Use

Jaycee Gardens is located in a mostly residential area. To the west lies Martindale Pond, famous for hosting several rowing competitions in the summer. The remains of the Third Welland Canal can also be seen trailing off into the pond and continuing toward Port Dalhousie. To the east of the park, the route of the 3rd Welland Canal can be followed across Ontario Street for another 300 meters. For the enthusiastic adventurer, Lock 4 from the Third Welland Canal canal can be found in another small park across the street.

Directions

From the QEW

Exit at the Ontario St exit. Travel north along Ontario St. for approximately 1 km. Ontario Jaycee Gardens will be on the left.