The City of Oshawa is known for its civic pride, which can be seen through a plethora of downtown wall murals that depict the city’s illustrious history. Other attributes that differentiate the city include its premiere hospital, Lakeridge Health Oshawa, excellent schools, and convenient transportation corridors. The city has two massive waterfront parks: Lakefront Park West and Lakeview Park. In general, Oshawa is a good blend of metropolitan living and environmental surroundings. You will find many wildlife reserves and sandy beaches (see the Lakeview Park beach), making this city a nature lover’s paradise. The McLaughlin Bay Wildlife Reserve has over 400 different varieties of flora and fauna, while the Oshawa Valley Botanical Garden houses over 300 different kinds of peonies in the summer.