Riverside, Cambridge

Riverside is the green north end of Preston, wrapped around Riverside Park, one of the City's largest parks. On summer evenings, the park's ball diamonds, soccer fields and tennis courts are alive with games, while cyclists try the bike park and skateboarders roll through the skate park. The Speed River slides quietly past, and the Mill Run Trail follows it north toward Hespeler through woods and meadows. In winter the outdoor rink glows under the lights. Homes on streets like Caledonian View and Arlington Street sit a short walk from it all.

The 2021 census counts Riverside together with the northern part of Preston Centre, and the two had about 2,150 homes. About two in five are single detached houses, and apartment buildings under five storeys make up about three in ten. Row houses make up about one in nine. About two in five homes were built in 1960 or earlier, and about a quarter between 1961 and 1980. About one in six were built after 2011.

Grand River Transit's 56 Langs, 61 Preston and 67 Eagle-Pinebush routes and the 206 Coronation iXpress serve the neighbourhood. The Pinebush stop on the 302 ION Bus, which runs to Fairway ION station in Kitchener, is about 2.1 km away. Stage 2 ION, which the Region has approved and is now designing, plans a Preston station about 1.4 km away. Highway 401 runs along the north side, with an interchange at King Street (exit 278). The Mill Run Trail starts in Riverside Park.

Riverside Park covers about 99 hectares, with soccer and mini soccer fields, ball diamonds, tennis and volleyball courts, a bike park, a skateboard park, an outdoor rink and outdoor fitness equipment. The Mill Run Trail runs from Riverside Park to Chilligo Conservation Area. The Preston branch of the Cambridge Public Library is about 1.4 km away.

• Coronation Public School — JK to Grade 6. The public school for most of Riverside, on Concession Road.
• Parkway Public School — JK to Grade 6. The public school for the streets near Rogers Drive, on Preston Parkway.
• William G. Davis Public School — Grades 7 and 8. The middle school for Riverside.
• Preston High School — Grades 9 to 12. The public secondary school.
• St. Michael Catholic School — JK to Grade 8. The nearest Catholic elementary school, about 1.5 km away.
• St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School — Grades 9 to 12. The nearest Catholic secondary school, about 4.7 km away.