The Central Pickering directory.

The Amberlea plaza at Whites and Strouds offers casual restaurants, cafés and takeout for the surrounding family community.

Local pick: A casual dinner close to home

The Brock Road plazas serve the central neighbourhoods with casual restaurants, cafés and quick takeout.

Local pick: Quick meals on the Brock corridor

The Kingston Road plazas serve Village East with casual restaurants, cafés and takeout.

Local pick: A bite on the east side

The cafés and quick eateries along Altona Road serve Highbush, handy before or after a walk in Altona Forest.

Local pick: Coffee near the forest trails

Amberlea's neighbourhood plaza with grocery, pharmacy and everyday services for the surrounding community.

Local pick: Everyday errands in Amberlea

The Brock Road plazas bring grocery, pharmacy and everyday services to the central Pickering communities.

Local pick: Convenient shops on Brock

The plazas at Kingston and Brock serve Village East with grocery, pharmacy and everyday services.

Local pick: Everyday shopping on the east side

The Altona Road plazas serve Highbush and Rougemount with grocery, pharmacy and everyday services.

Local pick: Errands near the forest

A Durham DSB JK–8 public elementary serving the Amberlea community, popular with families for its programs.

Local pick: A sought-after Amberlea catchment

A Durham DSB JK–8 public elementary serving the Highbush community near Altona Forest.

Local pick: A school beside the forest

A Durham DSB JK–8 public elementary serving the Brock Ridge community along the Brock Road corridor.

Local pick: The Brock Ridge catchment

A Durham DSB JK–8 public elementary serving the Village East community in central Pickering.

Local pick: A Village East catchment

A Durham Catholic DSB JK–8 elementary serving the central Pickering communities.

Local pick: A central Catholic elementary

A protected TRCA woodland in Highbush — mature forest, boardwalks and trails, and an environmental classroom right in the heart of central Pickering.

Local pick: A walk among the old trees

A large community park in Brock Ridge with a splash pad, playgrounds, sports fields and walking paths for the surrounding family streets.

Local pick: The splash pad and ball diamonds

The neighbourhood parks of Amberlea — playgrounds, open fields and shaded paths woven through the family streets near Petticoat Creek.

Local pick: Playgrounds and shaded paths

A community park in the Village East area with sports fields, playgrounds and walking paths serving the east-central neighbourhoods.

Local pick: Sports fields and a playground

The Pine Creek ravine and connected greenways thread through central Pickering — natural trails and green corridors linking the family communities.

Local pick: A quiet ravine walk