This park was officially opened in July 1992, honoring the eleventh anniversary of Mississauga’s twin-city relationship with Kariya, Japan. Said to be the heart of serenity in the city, Kariya Park lies in the core of this proudly multicultural city. The famous Civic Centre clock tower can easily be seen through the greenery.

Kariya Park has an array of rhododendrons, pine, gingko and sweet gum trees planted in traditional Japanese garden style. A colony of Kariya's official city flower, the beautiful lavender-hued Iris laevigata or rabbit-ear iris, is one of the first sights greeting visitors as they enter the gardens.

Put on your walking shoes so you can take advantage of the meandering walkways that lead will lead you in and around a quiet pond and hill garden and through a stroll garden with shrubbery, rocks and low flowerbeds.

Kariya, Japan is a busy city of 132,000 people, located fifteen kilometers southwest of Nagoya, between Kyoto and Tokyo. Since 1981 Mississauga and Kariya have enjoyed a sister-city relationship, exchanging friendship and cultural delegations. The park design was truly an international affair! Designed in 1989 by Mississauga city staff landscape architects, the master plan was reviewed in consultation with their counterparts in Japan before construction began in order to ensure the flavor of Japan was captured.

The City of Kariya symbol can be viewed in various areas of the park. It includes a wild goose (kari) about to take flight and a figure eight (ya), both symbolic of future development. The open area above the figure eight indicates vibrant activity. The combination of the two symbols produces the city's name of Kariya.