Free program unveiled at dozens of parks in Mississauga 

A new program through which soccer balls, basketballs and other sports equipment are provided free of charge for people to use at more than two dozen Mississauga parks kicks off on Monday.

Under the year-long pilot study launched by the City of Mississauga and its partner in the project, Swiss-based Equip Sport, 30 sports equipment lockers have been installed at select parks across the city for residents to easily access.

It’s part of an effort, city officials say, to help residents of all ages get and stay active.

“Through this no-cost pilot program, residents will now be able to borrow free sports equipment including items like basketballs and soccer balls to make it easier to enjoy the sports amenities in local city parks,” officials added, noting the pilot is “another way the city is keeping Mississauga affordable for everyone.”

More broadly, the city continued, the program “supports health, inclusion and accessibility by helping reduce cost and equipment barriers for recreation and play.”

With school out and summer vacation here, officials noted the program is of particular benefit to kids in helping them stay active in the coming months.

Mississauga officials were at Pheasant Run Park in Erin Mills on Monday to officially launch the initiative.

They said the program is timely because:

• Parents are looking for affordable ways to keep kids busy and active as school ends and summer begins.
• It’s a free alternative to families as childcare and other costs continue to rise.
• It supports flexible, drop-in play for families without structured summer plans.
• It turns everyday park visits into spontaneous games — no planning, no registration, no cost.

The pilot is supported via funding from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities (Jumpstart), a national charity focused on helping kids and youth access sport and play.

In partnership with Equip Sport and various municipalities, “Jumpstart is helping expand access to free sports equipment in public spaces across Canada,” city officials said earlier, adding “Mississauga joins a growing number of municipalities exploring the model to make sport and recreation more accessible close to home.”

Raj Sheth, the city’s commissioner of community services, said if the pilot is successful, the program could become more permanent in Mississauga.

“Providing equitable access to sports equipment at our parks makes it easier for people to get outside, get moving and enjoy our green spaces,” he said in an earlier news release issued by the city. “With programs like Equip Sport, we can remove barriers and help more residents stay active and participate in recreation that is close to home. We’re hopeful the pilot is a success in the parks where lockers are installed, so we can look at expanding it in the future.”

Connecting people and recreation 

Nadia Paladino, Mississauga’s director of parks, forestry and environment, added that “whether it’s kicking a soccer ball around with friends at a local field, playing a 3-on-3 basketball game with neighbours near home or getting a group together for volleyball, this program helps connect people to the equipment they need to be active.”

Flying discs and other fitness/sports equipment will also be available for use, the city said.

Sports equipment lockers are installed at the following locations:

• Applewood Heights (A & B)
• Lake Aquitaine Park
• Century City Park basketball
• Courtneypark Athletic Fields basketball
• Daniels Community Field
• Erin Meadows basketball
• Erin Meadows soccer
• Fairwinds Park
• Forestview Park
• Four Winds Hollow Park
• Garnetwood Park pickleball
• Gulleden Park basketball
• Gulleden Park pickleball
• Huron Park
• Iceland Teaching Garden basketball
• Lakefront Promenade volleyball
• Malton Village Park
• McKechnie Woods
• Mississauga Valley Park soccer
• Mississauga Valley Park volleyball
• Mississauga-Meadowvale Rotary Park
• Paul Coffey Park
• Pheasant Run Park
• Red Oaks Park
• Sgt. David Yakichuk Park
• Spruce Park
• Tobias Mason Park
• Union Park
• Woodland Park

City officials said in looking to support “equitable access,” they selected locker locations to serve a wide range of communities and park users.

“Site selection considered accessibility and connectivity (including nearby transit and pedestrian routes), proximity to park amenities and opportunities to place lockers in higher-use areas where residents naturally gather to play,” the city said, adding the lockers “are designed to be easily relocated as needed to respond to changing park conditions or use. No additional costs for construction or adjustments to existing infrastructure are required.”

Park users can access lockers through the Equip Sport mobile app, available via free download at online stores and compatible with both iPhone and Android devices, the city noted.

Users must be 16 years of age or older to access and return equipment.

Founded in 2021, Equip Sport says its mission is to reduce barriers to physical activity by enabling shared, on-demand access to sports equipment in public spaces.

(Photos: City of Mississauga)