Outdoor Recreation Facilities

Sports Fields

The City is proud to operate and maintain 20 sports fields:

  • 1 field hockey
  • 1 cricket pitch
  • 2 granular based soccer fields (inclement weather fields)
  • 2 rugby fields
  • 10 soccer fields
  • 23 ball diamonds
  • 1 artificial turf field

All of our fields are multi-use fields. This means that our ball diamonds are situated in the corner(s) of either soccer or rugby fields.

Field Status

Find out the current condition of a playing field here.

Booking a Field

We strive to ensure that all permits for regulation-sized sports fields are allocated fairly to maximize public use while allowing teams and leagues a consistent location to carry out regular scheduled play.

To ensure fair use of sports fields for organized play, any team or league that wishes to use a field must obtain a Park Use Permit. Please read below for information on how to apply. 

Unorganized games or pick-up games do not require a permit.

Permit Application

Complete and submit an application for a Park Use Permit:

Your application should include:

  • The date and time play is requested 
  • The location and name of the desired sport field 
  • Proof of comprehensive coverage of not less than $3,000,000.00 insurance naming the City of Victoria as additional insured

Permitting Process

Permits will be issued by the Permit Clerk, Recreation Division under the direction of the Manager, Recreation Division.

  • First priority is given to requests from organizations/teams who held the permit for the date/time/field in the previous year
  • Where allocation of a playing field has no priority, permits will be issued according to the date that the written requests were received in the Recreation office
  • Written requests for ball diamonds will be received during the month of January
  • Written requests for rugby/soccer fields will be received from June 1-30
  • A memo will be mailed to previous tournament and scheduled users reminding them of their need to reapply for the new season - failure to reply by the date requested will result in loss of use, and it will then go to the next name on a waiting list
  • Each organization/team that has historic priority for a tournament has first refusal for the equivalent weekend at the same sports field the following year - first refusal in this instance is only if the appropriate written request is submitted
  • Beer garden request will be issued to teams in good standing who have applied as outlined above and have historic priority - all requests are subject to the Beer Garden Policy as approved by Council, and any requests for exemptions to the policy will be directed to Committee of the Whole for a decision 
  • A league schedule must be delivered to the Permit Clerk, Recreation Division before the start of regular season play 
  • The City cannot guarantee that all requests for playing time will be fulfilled
  • All permits must be signed and one copy must be returned to the Recreation Division at 2275 Quadra Street to deem the permit valid
  • All outstanding invoices must be paid in full before new permits being allocated
  • In addition to permit requirements, any league requesting use of a park to host cup games or international matches must make the following arrangements:
    1. Make a written submission to the Permit Clerk, Recreation Division to host the tournament naming the location, date, and time of the event
    2. If the event falls on a weekend that is normally allocated to another league, contact that league to acquire permission in writing to hold the event on the weekend they normally use
    3. Submit a copy of the written permission from the league that is usually allocated the field(s)

Upon receipt of the required documents, the request to host the event will be reviewed. If the request is approved, a permit will be issued from the Recreation Division. Please note that hosting a cup game or international match does not set a precedence for your league to use of City of Victoria Parks annually.

Fees

Beyond supplying proof of liability insurance, City bylaws require that some or all of the following user fees are paid:

  • Park permit fees - regular fields 
  • Sports field lighting fees 
  • Change room fees 
  • Barrier fence rental fees 
  • Beer garden fees 
  • Beer garden/tournament litter deposits 
  • Garbage disposal fees 
  • Beer garden/tournament clean-up deposit 
  • Park clean-up fees 
  • Staff call-out fees

Cancellations

Park staff retain the right to cancel any permit subject to field/weather condition.

Cancellation of events for environmental conditions such as rain-outs shall not be charged providing the event is cancelled prior to the beginning of play by the Parks Division.

Refunds for tournaments/beer gardens will only be issued if received no later than seven days before the requested time. Refunds will be considered if City staff can find an alternate user for the tournament/beer garden time.

Please review the Cancellation/refund policy. 

 

Tennis and Pickleball Courts

Park

Tennis Courts

Pickleball

Courts

Location
Banfield 2   Next to 521 Craigflower Road
Barnard 2 2 Barnard Street off 700 Block - Esquimalt
Beacon Hill 3   Nursery Road
Beacon Hill   3 Arbutus Way
Central 2 2 Behind 2275 Quadra Street
Hollywood 2   1600 Block of Fairfield Road
Oaklands (Kings) 4 2 Ryan between Victor and Scott Streets
Stadacona

3 lower

2 tournament

  Pandora Avenue at Begbie Street
Todd Park 3   100 block Montreal Street
Franklin Green   1 1045 Mason Street

Beacon Hill Park (Nursery Road) and Central Park have practice walls.

Find parks by neighbourhood and view a map here.

Service Updates 
Effective April 1, 2022, the courts in Todd Park in James Bay are available for tennis use only. People who previously held permits for pickleball at Todd Park have been offered permits for the newly resurfaced courts in Central Park.

Drop-In Tennis/Pickleball Court Use

All tennis/pickleball courts are open on a first come, first served basis except when reserved through a permit.

  • Hours of use are 8 a.m. to dusk
  • Limit play to 30 minutes or one set if others are waiting
  • Courts are intended for racquet sports only – bicycles, skateboards, scooters, hockey and other play are prohibited
  • Current court bookings to help plan your visit can be viewed here

Court Permit Bookings

The City will not be issuing additional permits for courts at this time. A review of court allocation is planned for 2022, where staff will be seeking public input. Additional details will be released as they are available.

 

Basketball Courts

Full basketball courts are available at Central Park and Vic West Park. Multi-use courts are available at Hollywood Park, Stevenson Park, Banfield Park, Cecelia Ravine Park, Oaklands Park and Oswald Park. Find parks by neighbourhood and view a map here.

 

Outdoor Fitness Equipment

A variety of outdoor fitness equipment is available in the following five parks:

  • Beacon Hill Park
  • Cecelia Ravine Park (shown above)
  • Central Park
  • Oaklands Park
  • Topaz Park

 Find parks by neighbourhood and view a map here.