Bellbury Park Playground Improvements

The City is planning improvements to the playground in Bellbury Park. These improvements are part of an ongoing city-wide program to ensure our playgrounds provide safe and accessible fun for many years to come!

  • Spring 2021: First community engagement survey, collect feedback on vision for new playground
  • Summer 2021: Develop playground design options using survey feedback
  • Winter 2021: Second community engagement survey, collect feedback on multiple playground options
  • Spring to Summer 2022: Detailed design and hire a construction team
  • Spring 2023: Construction starts
  • Late Summer/Early Fall 2023: Construction complete, playground reopens

The timeline is subject to change.

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While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no text alternative available for some of the content on this site. If you require alternate formats or need assistance understanding our maps, drawings, or any other content, please contact Kaila Johnson at 416-338-0620.

November 2022

Design Update

Upon doing regular due diligence and an internal review of the design, the project team was made aware of site constraints that have made the preferred design unfeasible to fully implement. As a result, a redesign will take place. The proposed basketball court will be redesigned to a half basketball court. The size of the new half basketball court will still be larger than the existing ‘unofficial’ basketball pad currently on-site. Elements that will not be impacted by the redesign include:

  • The playground equipment. The equipment chosen by the community during the public engagement process will be used in the redesign
  • The shade structure
  • Basketball (redesigned to be a half court)
  • Seating and accessibility improvements

The redesign work will occur internally and will not add any additional consulting or construction costs.

February 2022

Online Survey

From February 4 to February 20, 2022, feedback on multiple playground design options was collected in an online survey. The survey was promoted through paid social media ads, the local Councillor’s office, on-site signage, and on this page. The survey received a total of 318 responses.

The design team will use this feedback to refine a final design. The final design will be available on this page in summer 2022.

Key Feedback Highlights

  • When asked to rank their playground design preference, respondents ranked Playground Design A highest (51 per cent) followed by Playground Design B (45 per cent).
  • Respondents shared that the five most important features to include in the new playground are:
    • climbing structures
    • senior play structure for ages five to 12
    • spiral Slide
    • belt Swings
    • junior play structure for ages two to five
  • Respondents shared that the three least important features to include in the new playground are:
    • musical play-piece
    • play panels
    • spring toy
  • If budget permits, the three features respondents would like more of in the improved playground are:
    • climbing Structures
    • senior play structure for ages five to12
    • standup see-saw
  • The preferred colour scheme for the new playground was earthy colours like green, brown, and grey (48 per cent), over bright colours, like yellow, orange, and red (43 per cent), with 10 per cent having no preference.
Playground Options

Both designs are accessible, have the same amount of play features and cost the same amount.

Playground Design A

A rendering of playground Design A for the Bellbury Park Playground improvements, looking to the north from the south. From the lower-left to the upper-right, it includes a standalone climbing structure, and senior play equipment with three slides.

Design A includes:

  • A swingset with:
    • two belt swings
    • one toddler swing
    • one accessible swing
  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • one slide
    • various climbing options
    • three climbing options
    • one curvy climbing pole
    • one wheel panel
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • two slides
    • one spiral slide
    • various climbing options
  • One wall climber
  • One stand up spinner toy
  • One standalone balance toy
  • One standalone percussion musical play piece
  • One car spring toy
Playground Design B

A rendering of playground Design B for the Bellbury Park Playground improvements, looking to the north from the south. From the upper-left to the lower-right, it includes a senior climbing structure with slide, one standalone spinner, one accessible swing, one tot swing, two belt swings, and a junior climbing structure with slide.

Design B includes:

  • A swingset with:
    • two belt swings
    • one toddler swing
    • one accessible swing
  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • two climbing options
    • two play panels
    • one double slide
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • one slide
    • various metal climbing options
    • one rope climbing piece
  • One balance toy
  • One stand-up see-saw
Playground Plan

This image shows a plan view of the new playground layout. It shows a full basketball court, and playground, as well as a shade structure and addition of new trees

The existing playground is located in two separate areas. The proposed new playground will be located in one large area. This is beneficial because it:

  • Allows children to play with one another in one area
  • The location is  close to the sidewalk and other park amenities, which increases visibility of the playground and improves safety

The proposed layout for the new playground includes:

  • Woodchip surfacing (called Engineered Cedar Fibre)
  • A concrete border around the playground
  • A concrete accessible ramp
  • New play equipment
  • A new asphalt paved connection to the playground and a concrete pad leading to the basketball court
  • Benches for seating
  • New Tree planting
  • New gazebo (shade structure) adjacent to the playground, with three benches under the gazebo
  • The existing splash pad is to remain as-is.
  • The existing ping pong table and outdoor exercise equipment are to remain the as-is

June 2021

Online Survey

Feedback on the community’s preferences for the playground design was collected in an online survey from June 5 to June 20, 2021. The design team will use this feedback to develop multiple playground design options. The survey received a total of 434 responses, which included feedback from 1,052 individuals.

  • 43% of respondents would like to see more climbing features in the new playground
  • 38% of respondents would like to see a group swing in the new playground
  • 33% of respondents would like to see more spiral slides in the new playground
  • 78% of survey respondents preferred a bright colour scheme for the new playground

Download the full survey summary report for more information.

Bellbury Park Playground is located at 55 Van Horne Ave., east of Leslie Street.

The playground currently includes:

  • Four swing sets:
    • Two swing sets with two swings for ages two to five
    • Two swing sets with two swings for ages five and up
  • A junior playground area with:
    • A spring car
    • Tunnel
    • Small yellow slide
    • Mini house with seating
    • A stand-alone steering wheel
    • Several play activity panels
  • An infinity climbing structure and small red slide
  • A larger pink tunnel
  • Monkey bars
  • A pink cylindrical play structure with red handles
  • Sand and rubber under play areas
  • A small basketball court with a hoop

The playground will be redesigned using feedback from the community. The redesigned playground is proposed to include:

  • Accessible play equipment. This means that people of all abilities will be able to play at this playground.
  • New playground equipment
  • Woodchip playground surfacing

Improvements will only be made in the general playground area. This will not include any new water or lighting features, or improvements to other areas of the park.