District 5 – Dartmouth Centre consists of Dartmouth's downtown core, vibrant residential neighborhoods and commercial and shopping areas. It has a population of approximately 26,400 residents and consists of parts of “Old Dartmouth” including North Woodside, Crichton Park, Manor Park, Southdale, and part of Dartmouth North as well as newer areas such as Lancaster Park.
Dartmouth Centre is full of picturesque public areas, including Sullivan’s Pond, which is home to Canada geese and a lovely water fountain. The Ferry Terminal Park offers a panoramic view of the harbour and neighboring city of Halifax. The Peace Pavilion, which hosts rocks from the Berlin Wall and Great Wall of China, also overlooks the harbour. The Dartmouth Common is home to the only outdoor public pizza oven in HRM, a large community garden and urban orchard, and new skateboard park.
The events plaza near Alderney Landing hosts many events throughout the year including major outdoor concerts, festivals, and community events. Inside Alderney Landing residents find a bustling weekend farmer’s market, art gallery, and theatre.
Dartmouth, known as the “City of Lakes”, is true to its name and boasts several pristine lakes including Lake Banook, Oathill, Penhorn, Little Albro, Maynard’s and Martin’s Lake. Lake Banook is home to three paddling clubs and some of the best paddlers in the country. It includes a world class paddling course, and has hosted the World’s Paddling Championships twice.
The district is also home to the Dartmouth General Hospital, NSCC Waterfront Campus, six schools, a golf course, commercial shopping district, and tennis club, making it an ideal location for the modern urban-dweller.
Downtown Dartmouth is also experiencing a welcome period of development, leading to the establishment of new restaurants, and shops in the downtown corridor. One of the largest projects currently underway is the old Dartmouth Shipyards, which are finding new life as King's Wharf, a multi-million dollar mixed-use residential and commercial development.
The Zatzman Sportsplex is Dartmouth's hub for active living, social opportunities, and recreation. This indoor sports and community centre recently underwent a multi-million dollar retrofit to include a new swimming pool and splash pad, double-court gymnasium, fitness centre, racquet ball and squash courts.