Leaside offers its residents, both children and adults a wide variety of sports activities. Many of these activities take place at the Leaside Memorial Community Gardens, which opened in 1951 in its present location at the intersections of Millwood, Southvale and Laird Drive. Facilities at the Gardens include an arena, a swimming pool and The William Lea Room.

The Gardens were named in honour of the World War II veterans which is commemorated with an outdoor plaque that reads, “In memory of the men of the Town of Leaside who gave their lives for their country in the Second World War – seventeen Leasiders.” The land on which the Gardens sits belonged to and was donated by the historic Lea family, a fact which is recognized by another outside plaque, part of which reads: “An octagonal brick farm house built in 1851-1854 by William Lea (1814-1893) a York County Councillor, a Magistrate, amateur poet and nature lover.……”

In the colder months of the year both boys and girls hockey and figure skating is available at the Leaside Arena at Memorial Gardens while spring and summer afternoons and nights in Talbot Park and Trace Manes Park will often see children in baseball or soccer games.

The adults in Leaside also enjoy playing baseball and tennis in the summer and many can be found on a summer's night at the lawn bowling club at the western end of Parklea Drive. In winter, the Memorial Gardens offers public skating and swimming while curling enthusiasts can enjoy the Leaside Curling Club next door.