Petticoat Creek, located along the Lakeshore in Pickering, is a picturesque Conservation Park offering beautiful scenery of the shoreline and bluffs, and vast spaces for picnicking. And, if you love to swim, you can enjoy one of the largest outdoor pools of its kind in Ontario - a pool that's the size of a football field!

The main attraction at this park is by far the 1.5-acre (82,500 sq. ft.) supervised swimming pool, where many come to escape the summer heat. 1 million gallons of filtered water is poured into this colossal pool 3 times daily, and the water is crystal clear clean! Most of the pool surface offers a shallow wading area for younger children, yet the centre of the pool offers deeper waters for the more experienced swimmer. The pool complex comes complete with change rooms, a refreshment booth and a playground, conveniently located nearby. What's also enjoyable about the pool area is that it is completely surrounded by grass and trees, which offers the perfect setting for picnicking and relaxing. The park also employs 15 lifeguards.

Outside of the pool area, Petticoat Creek offers 11 great picnic sites, with picnic tables available throughout the area. 3 of the picnic sites have shelters available. Nature enthusiasts can also enjoy a leisurely walk on The Waterfront Trail.

So if you're looking for ways to cool off this summer, pack up a blanket, a picnic and your swim toys, and head over to the Petticoat Creek Conservation Area. It's a great outing to enjoy a perfect hot summer day! The park is located at 1100 Whites Road, in Pickering. Take Hwy. 401 East to the Whites Road exit. Continue along Whites Road South for 1km. For operating hours, fees and schedules, visit www.trca.on.ca.