Bringing North Halifax parks to life

North Halifax Partnership (NHP) is a community-driven organisation dedicated to improving wellbeing and public services across North Halifax. One of the ways NHP brings people together is through inclusive, family-friendly events held in local parks, many of which have been enhanced through the Active Parks fund. These improvements are already making a difference, creating safer, more welcoming spaces for residents to enjoy and increasing park usage throughout the year.

Below are two recent examples of how the upgraded parks are being used to host creative, high-impact community events.

Beechwood Park: Halloween Trail

Despite challenging weather, families still came out to explore Beechwood Park through a Halloween-themed trail. Children followed a map around the park to uncover hidden letters that, when unscrambled, revealed a secret word. Alongside the trail, an arts and crafts station invited kids to design their own tote bags or decorate rocks, giving them something fun and memorable to take home.

Total attendance: 35 (impacted by very poor weather)

Shroggs Park: Spooky Shroggs Halloween Trail

Now in its third year, the Spooky Shroggs Halloween Trail has become a highlight of the local calendar. Families navigated the full park in search of hidden letters, dodged the giant spider in the maze, and stepped inside a pop-up bat cave containing an extra puzzle challenge. The event drew a large and enthusiastic crowd, with many residents returning year after year.

Total attendance: 150

Local voices

Stakeholder and resident feedback show just how impactful these events and the parks themselves have become:

“We were super happy with having such a high turnout today! It was great to see so many different families out walking around and exploring Shroggs Park. For some people it was their first time in months getting out to a local green space, and we hope that this event will encourage them to visit their local parks more often.”

JD Anderson-Martin, Community Organiser, North Halifax Partnership

“We don’t normally go to Shroggs, even though we live nearby, so it was nice to come here today for the trail.”

North Halifax resident

“This event was ace—loved the spider lady scaring people in the maze. Had such a fun time with my daughter today.”

Carly, North Halifax resident

Building momentum

These events show how targeted investment through the Active Parks fund is helping North Halifax create vibrant, accessible outdoor spaces where families feel confident to explore, play, and be active. As more residents rediscover their local parks, NHP hopes to see increased community use throughout the year and even stronger connections between people and the green spaces on their doorstep.