Essex Centre Dog Park

Originally established as Rossini Park in 1951, the Alpha Kai Omega (AKO) Fraternity began exploring how to become involved in the future development of the park when the City was constructing an athletic building on the site. In 1961, the neighbourhood centre was constructed as the first facility in Windsor designed specifically as a community centre. In 2007, the centre was renamed the Constable John Atkinson Memorial Community Centre, in honour of Constable John Atkinson, Windsor Police Services, who was killed in the line of duty. AKO Park has an outdoor spray pad featuring 22 different water toys, which are computer programmed for a sequence of water fun. The spray pad is open to the public at no charge from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Community Centre is available for birthday parties. For inquires, please call 519-945-2452.

A portion of the park is a memorial for indigenous peoples and is left in a natural state. The other portion of the park has been developed with a basketball key and play equipment in co-operation with the developer for the surrounding residences.

A tough find and hidden gem, follow along a winding paved trail next to the CN railroad tracks through Abraham Cole Park and you will find a small set of playground equipment with soft woodchip ground cover and a park bench.