Parks, trails and booking City spaces

Prince George has a large network of parks, nature areas and trails, plus arenas, fields and halls the public can rent. This guide explains how to book them, and highlights places worth knowing.

Booking at a glance

What you want	How to book
Picnic spot or park for a private event	Park booking request form, or email parksandrec@princegeorge.ca
Sports field or ball diamond	Same form, unless a sports group leases it (see below)
School gym or field (community use)	Same form; City and SD57 shared-use agreement
City arena or Exhibition Park	Online arena booking system
CN Centre	Through the CN Centre directly
Pool rental or group booking	City aquatics rentals page
Parade, festival, tournament or public event	Special Event Permit

You can also call 311 and ask for Parks and Recreation Services.

Insurance: the step people forget

Anyone booking City property needs at least $5 million in commercial general liability insurance, with a standard insurance certificate as proof. For school bookings, the City and School District 57 must both be named as additional insureds. You can use any insurer or buy short-term event coverage online through the City’s insurance partner.

The insurance covers claims arising from things you control, like your equipment, structures and activities. If something goes wrong and you’re uninsured, you can be held responsible.

Parks

Parks are always open to the public. Booking is optional. It reserves a spot at a popular park for things like birthdays, graduations, weddings and reunions. The City doesn’t supervise outdoor bookings.

Park rules

• No alcohol, smoking, vaping or drugs.
• Propane barbecues are allowed, but not directly on tables or structures.
• No pets on sports fields or playgrounds. Dogs are allowed in designated on-leash and off-leash parks.
• No vehicles on grass or fields. Park in the lots.
• No staking tents or equipment into the ground.
• Amplified sound (large speakers) needs a noise permit. Small portable speakers don’t.
• Caterers may serve your guests but can’t advertise or sell to the public.

Report damage or vandalism to 311.

Sports fields

Many fields and diamonds are leased long-term to sports organizations. If the field you want is one of theirs, book through the group, not the City. The City lists these partners on its booking page. They include PG Youth Baseball (Rotary, Volunteer, Joe Martin, Harry Loder and Gyro parks), the PG Soccer Association and PG Youth Soccer Association (Exhibition Park fields), and several softball and fastball leagues.

School gyms and fields

Through a shared-use agreement, the City books SD57 gyms and fields for community recreation. Things to know:

• Private one-time events and parties generally aren’t booked.
• An SD57 custodian will be on site, and charges may apply.
• Youth groups need adult supervision the whole time.
• Wear clean, non-marking indoor shoes. No food or drink in gyms.
• No pets, smoking, vaping, alcohol or drugs on school property.

Arenas, halls and Exhibition Park

City arenas (Kin Centre, Elksentre, Kopar Memorial) and Exhibition Park can be booked for hockey, trade shows, conventions and more through the City’s online booking system. Other City venues include the Conference and Civic Centre, Prince George Playhouse and Studio 2880. The CN Centre handles its own event bookings. See recreation centres and pools for addresses.

Special events

If you’re hosting a parade, festival, tournament, run or other event in any City-owned public space, you need a Special Event Permit (SEP).

1. Read the City’s event planning guidelines.
2. Apply for the SEP well in advance. There’s no application fee.
3. Budget for costs such as City services, bylaw staff, deposits and equipment.
4. Arrange insurance, and a noise permit if you’re using amplified sound.
5. If your event affects traffic, you may also need a road closure or traffic disruption notice.

Non-profit groups get subsidized rates for parks, fields, schools, arenas and pools.

Parks and places to explore

The City maintains well over a hundred parks, from neighbourhood playgrounds to large nature parks. A few favourites:

• Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park. The city’s premier park at the confluence of the Fraser and Nechako rivers, on the site of a former Lheidli T’enneh village. It has a pavilion, a playground and riverside trails.
• Cottonwood Island Nature Park. Riverside trails through old cottonwood forest.
• Forests for the World. Trails, lakes and viewpoints on Cranbrook Hill.
• Connaught Hill Park. A downtown lookout with city views.
• Ferguson Lake Nature Reserve and Hudson’s Bay Wetland. Good for birding.
• Heritage River Trail System. Connects parks along the rivers.
• Moore’s Meadow and Ginter’s Meadow. Meadows with off-leash areas.

The City’s parks and trails directory has a page for each park, with maps and amenities. It also lists parks washrooms, playgrounds and pet-friendly parks. Regional parks outside city limits are run by the Regional District (see regional district), and provincial parks by BC Parks.

Community associations

Neighbourhood community associations run outdoor rinks, programs and local events, often in City parks. The City supports them and lists contacts on its community associations page.

Related: recreation centres and pools, bylaws and animal control, permits and licences.