Barrie Centennial Park
Barrie Centennial Park
4.5
7:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 11:00 PM
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
467 reviews
Excellent
234
Very good
166
Average
48
Poor
9
Terrible
10
BruceS911
Las Vegas, NV111 contributions
Sept 2020
As a long resident of Barrie, I have witnessed the evolution of centennial beach over the years. I live within walking distance from the beach and would often take walks along the beach. The improvements at the park have attracted many visitors from all over including Toronto. I now avoid Centennial Park in the summer, as the park is packed with people, some of which park for the entire day/weekend with tents and Gazebos. Cheaper than camping out at a provincial park I guess.
Barrie has since increased parking rates and sent in an army of bylaw enforcement officers. COVID-19 also reduced crowds this past summer. Good for the residents but bad for tourists and day-trippers, and less revenue for Barrie. Waterfronts should be shared with the public, but some visitors show little respect for the privilege of use.
Barrie has since increased parking rates and sent in an army of bylaw enforcement officers. COVID-19 also reduced crowds this past summer. Good for the residents but bad for tourists and day-trippers, and less revenue for Barrie. Waterfronts should be shared with the public, but some visitors show little respect for the privilege of use.
Written 18 January 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
abou_8
ORLEANS3 contributions
Jul 2021
just came back from Barrie after cutting my week stay in hotel to 2 days, Tourism are no longer welcome to this park as the city has instituted a non resident parking fee of $10/hr or $50/day for parking near the park area. plus they have further restricted access to side streets with parking limited to resident parking permit holder only.
So sad for such a beautiful place as city not welcoming tourists who spent a 4 % extra municipal hotel tax . We used to visit annually but no more. We are retired couple just
looking for a place to relax after golf day or dinner out.
So sad for such a beautiful place as city not welcoming tourists who spent a 4 % extra municipal hotel tax . We used to visit annually but no more. We are retired couple just
looking for a place to relax after golf day or dinner out.
Written 29 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Wander481890
Toronto, Canada1 contribution
Aug 2020 • Family
We ordered 6 ice creams and the dark-haired older lady was very impatient with the orders saying “hurry up” and “who is paying for this”. When she didn’t give any napkins out, the adult in the party went to get some and was rudely questioned if she ordered anything. When the adult answered yes 6 ice creams the adult asked why she was so rude to the people ordering , she replied ‘next time I’ll be ruder.’
Written 21 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jay
Toronto, Canada1 contribution
Jul 2020
pros,
Lifeguards are professional and nice.
Cleanliness is top notch.
View beautiful as a beach should be
thats it.
cons,
Parking cost $50, your lie too that if your not barrie resident you cant park anywhere paid or otherwise by the ticket people.
No BBQ allowed" charcoal or Gas" on beach or Grass area or anywhere.
No Gazebo Allowed
No Tent Allowed.
Not even tiny child play tent.
Washroom toilet , they remove the seat, only urinal.
You get ticketed a few minute of verbal notice...lots of ticket writing people around all day, worst place and ticketed people talk to you like your dirt maybe cause corona virus but not an excuse to do so.
Lifeguards are professional and nice.
Cleanliness is top notch.
View beautiful as a beach should be
thats it.
cons,
Parking cost $50, your lie too that if your not barrie resident you cant park anywhere paid or otherwise by the ticket people.
No BBQ allowed" charcoal or Gas" on beach or Grass area or anywhere.
No Gazebo Allowed
No Tent Allowed.
Not even tiny child play tent.
Washroom toilet , they remove the seat, only urinal.
You get ticketed a few minute of verbal notice...lots of ticket writing people around all day, worst place and ticketed people talk to you like your dirt maybe cause corona virus but not an excuse to do so.
Written 27 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
tdsuperstar
Toronto, Canada19,404 contributions
Mar 2024 • Solo
Often packed, lots of litter on the weekends, the bathrooms are on the dirty side with evidence of drug use frequently. As a resident, parking is free. Anyone else, $10 an hour. That’s ridiculous. More peaceful during the week, it’s worth a visit much more then. Hopefully, things can get better and hopefully much more to non-locals. For $10 and hour in park, the City of Barrie should be making sure the area is immaculate.
Written 2 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Luisitorey
Mexico City, Mexico416 contributions
Feb 2020 • Solo
I’ve never been standing on a frozen lake before, so for me, it was a very nice experience. Cold af but very nice. It has a playground for the little ones, a nice trail and a couple of bonfires to sit and watch people go by. Nice to soend a couple of hours walking around and watching the sculptures.
Written 13 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Prfct_Fan_Food_Srvc
Birmingham, MI1,625 contributions
Aug 2022 • Solo
After a great lunch, I took some time to enjoy the natural beauty of this area.
This a wonderful park to walk. Swings and slides for the kids. Multiple memorial plaques adorne the area.
A true gem in the Great North.
This a wonderful park to walk. Swings and slides for the kids. Multiple memorial plaques adorne the area.
A true gem in the Great North.
Written 9 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Bryan D
Toronto, Ontario, Canada5 contributions
Jun 2020
Barrie can you know what. Any town that does allow outsiders to park in their precious town can stick it!!!! We spend in local restaurant and now get a parking ticket.
Written 14 June 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Monica F
Barrie, Canada4 contributions
Aug 2018 • Family
One of the reasons we moved to Barrie 17 years ago was for the lakefront beauty. But over the past 5 years or so, as a Barrie resident you can't even go near the park for all the Toronto trash that comes to use the park. You can barely find a parking spot let alone a spot at the beach or the park. Car loads of people come with bbq's, hammocks, tents.. you name it its there. The women's bathroom if absolutely filthy with toilet paper, tampons, pads, dirty diapers all over the floors. Just disgusting.
I used to bring my daughter there when she was little, I would set foot at that park even if you paid me. Now as a resident, I have to find somewhere else to go that isn't invaded with Toronto trash.
I used to bring my daughter there when she was little, I would set foot at that park even if you paid me. Now as a resident, I have to find somewhere else to go that isn't invaded with Toronto trash.
Written 9 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
1esteban
barrie, ontario41 contributions
Sept 2012 • Friends
All so virtually stupid. The beach is across from and downwind from the massive sewage treatment facility, which depending on the day, can be really RANK! The massive sewer water release is off the main beach about 1000 feet in the lake. You can tell as this is where the ice is last to freeze over in the winter. The geese and ducks defoul the lawns and where they have "missed" the dogs on leashes crews have allowed fido to do his thing, which they clean up with their hand-in-the-plastic-bag routine, but it is never done well enough. Sp think that one through before you flop down a nice clean blanket or towel. The park is devoid of trees, which is a pain. They put a virtual throughway through the park so be careful, it is dangerous, especially for little kids. The area is overwhelmed by massive concrete condo buildings which shade the beach in the late day, and provide a truly ugly back drop. In the summer they blocl off the park for events like the huge Kempenfest Flea Market ( a joke) and for the auto race weekend, when the air is filled with gas fumes and noise. Barrie council cannot understand the concept of "park." There is a marina crammed in the park which is weird, having the city compete with free enterprise local facilities. It is filled with friends of city staff and teachers who won't pay the going rate elsewhere. They don't pay for the parking they steal on weekends, which amounts to hundreds of prime spots. It is unsafe to jog or walk in Centennial park at night and the statistics are there to prove it. If you want drugs, go there at night and flick a lighter. It is questionable if the water is safe to swim in, as when the sewage plant has a mechanical problem, they frequently release untreated sewage into the lake, and with the outlet 1000 feet off the beach, well, be sure to swim with your mouth shut! Centennial Park has been receiving more buildings every year, cluttering up the open parklands. It is now "tight" for space at the end of the Bay where the beach is. This park should be avoided. consider nearby Orillia, world class Wasaga, or the Tiny beaches area on Georgian Bay. If yo do go to Centennial, be sure to shower, and hyour kids too, and remember to wash those beach blankets. Centennial Beach is one of this area's historic points of shame and wasted opportunity. It gets worse every year. Good to visit on a winter day to feed the ducks.
Written 21 December 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Are there washrooms available to use during this time? Is the water clean? Are there any icecream shops open? Thank you.
Written 24 July 2020
misssuesy
Toronto, Canada
How accessible is the beach/ washroom area for wheelchair user?
Written 24 June 2019
There are accessible washrooms and a very nice path all along the waterway. You will have a problem if you want to access the sand. There are no provisions for any accessible access to the sand.
Written 27 June 2019
How much is parking for a day?
Are there shades just in case it rains?
Written 1 July 2017
Parking is by the hour and there are multiple parking lots available.
There are shaded areas in the park for hot days.
Written 22 July 2017
No there is no cost- but you have to pay for parking
Written 24 August 2016
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