Bristol Avenue Parkette West Playground Enhancements

About the Project

The City of Toronto is improving Bristol Avenue Parkette Playground as part of the State of Good Repair program. The redesigned playground and surrounding area will include:

• A new playground on top of engineered wood fibre (to improve playground accessibility)
• A sandbox
• A new multi-use trail
• Additional seating
• A water bottle filling station

The final playground design will be developed through consultation with the community.

Project Updates

September 17, 2020

In August, the City presented three draft designs for the new playground and proposed improvements for the area around the playground. The survey was available to complete online from August 9 to August 23, 2020. In total, the survey received 80 responses.

The results of the survey led to the selection and refinement of one playground option for the new Bristol Avenue Parkette Playground. An online survey to collect final comments on these refined designs will be available until September 27. Please see the Get Involved section for details.

80% of survey respondents preferred design option 2:

Option 2 shows:

• A net climber to allow horizontal and vertical movement
• A play panel and pull up bar
• A disc swing for multiple children
• A junior climbing structure with a slide

In order to refine option 2 to reflect the feedback shared through the survey, the disk swing was replaced with four swings in the new design, including two belt swings; one accessible swing; and, one bucket (junior) swing. The playground will also be painted in lighter colours to prevent overheating from the sun.

Though participants also suggested adding more and larger play structures, more natural play elements, rubber surface instead of sand, and water features, these are not possible due to both budgetary and/or space constraints.

Refined Playground Design

The refined design for Bristol Avenue Parkette Playground includes:

• A net climber to allow horizontal and vertical movement
• A play panel and pull up bar
• Swings, including:
  • two belt swings
  • one accessible swing
  • one junior/bucket swing
• A junior climbing structure with a slide

In addition to new playground equipment, the following improvements around the playground were proposed in the August online survey:

• A multi-use trail that cuts across the parkette from Bristol Ave to a laneway. The trail also wraps around the east, south and west sides of the playground, providing a high level of accessibility to the playground (in black).
• A triangular sandbox on the west side of the playground (in yellow).
• Additional benches to the east and west of the playground, facing the playground (in brown).
• A water bottle filling station to the east of the playground, replacing the existing water fountain (light blue).
• All existing lighting to remain.
• Gates added on both ends of the trail.

Improvements proposed in the August Online Survey

81% of survey respondents like the proposed improvements around the playground. Based on the suggestions received in the online survey, the following changes were made to the design:

• The gates at each end of the trail (the park entrances) are replaced will bollards. The bollards will not impede strollers or bicycles, but will still keep vehicles off of the trail.
• Upon budget confirmation, a picnic table will be added.
• Upon budget confirmation, additional trees will be planted for shade.
  • Note: There is a limitation with the height of plantings in the hydro corridor, and building structures such as shade structures are prohibited.

Additional garbage bins will be provided, close to the playground

Refined Improvements

Overall, the final improvements around the playground will include:

• A multi-use trail that cuts across the parkette from Bristol Ave to a laneway. The trail also wraps around the east, south and west sides of the playground, providing a high level of accessibility to the playground (in black).
  • Markings to delineate directional travel and prevent collisions will be considered, budget permitting.
  • Play markings on the trail around the playground will be considered, budget permitting.
• A triangular sandbox on the west side of the playground (in yellow).
• Additional benches to the east and west of the playground, facing the playground (in brown).
• A water bottle filling station to the east of the playground, replacing the existing water fountain (light blue).
• All existing lighting will remain.
• Bollards will be added on both ends of the trail.
• A picnic table will be added to the park (budget permitting)
• Additional trees will be planted (budget permitting).

Survey participants noted they would like all existing trees to remain. No trees will be disturbed during the park and playground improvements.

Additionally, some survey respondents requested lighting improvements and improved connection between the park and Dufferin Street. Though this is outside the scope of this project, lighting improvements will be considered in future phases of the larger Green Line project, which includes this park.

Budget and space constraints prevent other suggestions received through the online survey from being implemented, including adding various sports courts/fields, adult fitness equipment, landscape changes, a dog off-leash area.

August 2020

An online survey was available from August 9 to 23 to gather feedback on the following options for the playground and surrounding area.

Download the survey feedback summary.

Proposed Playground Options

The City has developed three design options for the playground equipment. Instead of sand, the new playground will sit on top of a woodchip-like surface, called Engineered Wood Fibre. This surface improves access to the playground for kids of all abilities. For example, this surface improves access for kids who use a wheelchair. A sandbox will be included in the new design, next to the playground.

All three playground options displayed are accessible. This means that kids of all abilities will be able to play on the new playground in various ways.

Option 1

Option 1 shows:

• A fibre-reinforced concrete climbing structure with a web connection
• A junior metal climbing structure
• A junior slide
• A swing set with two belt swings, a bucket swing and an accessible swing

Option 2

Option 2 shows:

• A net climber to allow horizontal and vertical movement
• A play panel and pull up bar
• A disc swing for multiple children
• A junior climbing structure with a slide

Option 3

Option 3 shows:

• A net climber to allow horizontal and vertical movement
• A play panel and pull up bar
• A disc swing for multiple children
• A spinning net climber

Additional Improvements

In addition to new playground equipment, improvements around the playground will include a new multi-use trail that will improve the accessibility of the playground, a sandbox, additional seating and a new water bottle filler.

• A multi-use trail that cuts across the parkette from Bristol Ave to a laneway. The trail also wraps around the east, south and west sides of the playground, providing a high level of accessibility to the playground (in black).
• A triangular sandbox on the west side of the playground (in yellow).
• Additional benches to the east and west of the playground, facing the playground (in brown).
• A water bottle filling station to the east of the playground, replacing the existing water fountain (light blue).
• All existing lighting to remain.
• Gates added on both ends of the trail.

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 Kyle Yang, Senior Project Coordinator, Construction Management and Capital Projects, at 416.394.8524  or kyle.yang@toronto.ca.