Picnic Shelters

Riverview Park and Zoo has many picnic tables and benches along the scenic pathways to enjoy picnics and a view of the beautiful Otonabee River.

There are also three, larger, picnic shelters at the Park and Zoo that may be booked for full day rentals. Reservations are available to City of Peterborough residents from Victoria Day weekend until Thanksgiving Monday.

Shelters 1 and 2 are found in the lower picnic area, down the driveway beside the playground. Access gates at both ends of the driveway are unlocked shortly after 8:30 a.m. when the park opens and locked again at dusk when the park closes.

Shelter 3 is found at the north end of the Park and Zoo property, near the disc golf course and beside the river. Guests using this shelter are asked to use the parking lot located at the intersection of Water Street and University Heights Boulevard. Please be aware that the shelter is a short walking distance away on a packed gravel pathway and does not provide vehicle access. 

A washroom is located in the picnic area between shelters 1 and 2 available for use during our summer season. There is no access to electricity or running water at any of the picnic shelters. 

See the Park and Zoo Map for details.

Shelter booking requests

Consider having your family reunion or special occasion with us here at the zoo. Picnic shelter reservations are available to City of Peterborough residents between Victoria Day in May and the Thanksgiving Monday in October, on a first serve basis and require an approved permit.

NOTE: In 2025, picnic shelters will be available to all visitors for a minimal fee and require a valid insurance certificate. Booking request forms for the summer operating season will be available on January 15 on a first serve basis, with an advance deposit necessary to hold your reservation.

 Rental conditions

• Shelter booking requests and completed forms should be submitted no later than two weeks prior to your event date.
• Peterborough residents are only permitted one booking per year.
• Patrons who rent shelters can bring a gas or propane barbecue to their event. Charcoal is not permitted on site.

• All garbage and recycling must be disposed of in the appropriate containers. Any garbage that does not fit within the container, must be removed by the patrons renting the shelter.
• As a precaution, we also require a $2 million liability insurance policy from any businesses or groups wishing to host an event at one of the shelters. Your application would still be considered should your coverage be less, however that is the base amount we prefer to request in order to protect everyone while onsite. 

RULES FOR SHELTER EVENT BOOKINGS

 Wedding bookings

McBride Island is available for wedding rentals with special permission. Wedding rentals include access to both McBride Island and Picnic Shelter 1.

Guests are responsible for their own event, in accordance with the above rules for picnic shelter event bookings. These responsibilities also include the set up and clean up after the event. All guests must leave the property before dusk. 

As a reminder, we do not allow balloons or other plastic decorations on site as they can harm the animals and environment.

Please contact us to ask about wedding bookings.

Contact us