Commissioners Park

About Commissioners Park

Commissioners Park sits on the western shore of Dow's Lake, just south of downtown Ottawa. It's a pleasant green space year-round, but it becomes one of the most visited spots in the city every May when over 300,000 tulips bloom across 26 distinctive flower beds.

The park is the main venue for the Canadian Tulip Festival, the world's largest free public tulip festival. During the festival (usually the second and third weeks of May), the park fills with visitors walking through the beds, photographing the blooms, and enjoying festival activities.

What to See

The tulip beds stretch along the waterfront pathway with views across Dow's Lake. Over 100 different tulip varieties are on display, ranging from classic red and yellow to more unusual fringed, parrot, and double varieties. The beds are labelled with variety names, which is helpful if you want to identify what you're looking at.

Outside of tulip season, the park is a quiet spot for walking, cycling along the canal pathway, or sitting by the water. In winter, the Dow's Lake skating pavilion is nearby for Rideau Canal Skateway access.

Getting There

• By Transit: Dow's Lake O-Train Station (Line 2) is a short walk from the park
• By Car: Limited street parking along Queen Elizabeth Driveway; paid lots near Dow's Lake Pavilion
• By Bike: On the Rideau Canal pathway — bike racks available

Tips

• Visit on weekday mornings for fewer crowds during tulip season
• The NCC Tulip Meter (online) tracks bloom levels in real time
• Bring a camera — the waterfront backdrop makes for great photos
• The Dow's Lake Pavilion nearby has restaurants and washrooms