Earlscourt Park Splash Pad Project

About the Project

Earlscourt Park is a 12.6-hectare park at Caledonia Road and St. Clair Avenue West that offers a range of amenities that are widely used by the community.

The City is replacing the concrete wading pool with a new splash pad and is involving the community in the design process. The splash pad will maintain a similar footprint to the existing wading pool. The project scope includes:

• New splash pad equipment including a variety of in-ground and above-ground spray and water features for all ages
• Possible integration of new site amenities such as benches, picnic tables and/or drinking fountain
• Possible relocation of amenities to accommodate design
• Additional seating
• Site restoration including general landscaping upgrades

Project Updates

November 25, 2020

Survey

A survey was conducted to gather feedback from the community on the concept plan and equipment design options developed based on feedback from the Earlscourt community. The survey closed on November 25, 2020. The survey results will be shared here in January 2021.

November 3, 2020

Virtual Public Meeting

The City of Toronto held a public meeting to provide a project update, present concept design options and receive feedback from the Earlscourt community. A report on that meeting will be posted when it is available.

September 6, 2020

Survey

A survey was conducted to gather feedback from the community on the splash pad vision and design principles. The results from the survey will be used to inform the development of the final design. The survey closed on September 6, 2020.

Download Survey Summary Report

My Splash Pad Redesign: Activity Book for Kids

As part of the community engagement process, an activity book provided kids with the opportunity to share their ideas for the future of Earlscourt Splash Pad. A digital and print-friendly version of the activity book was available to submit online until September 6, 2020.

Download the survey feedback summary.

Survey and Activity Book Highlights

• Survey responses = 542
  
• Throughout the survey, respondents identified the Earlscourt Wading Pool as an important space for the community both as an amenity and as a gathering place.
• When asked “What is your favourite part of visiting Earlscourt Wading Pool” several themes emerged, including proximity to businesses, close to home, sense of community, surrounding park, proximity to play structures, trees and shade, cleanliness and maintenance and others.
• Most wading pool users live walking distance to the park. 85% of survey respondents travel to the wading pool on foot. A small percentage of people (6%) do take public transit to the park or take a personal vehicle (13%).
• While the pool is an important space for children to play, it also serves a function on hot days. 81% of survey respondents visit the wading pool to cool down on hot days.
• The majority of survey respondents (67%) would like a separate area specifically for toddlers in the new splash pad design.
• 95% of respondents identified “Shaded areas e.g. under trees, shade structures” as important or very important.
• When asked “How can we make the new Earlscourt splash pad inclusive for all users?”,​ several themes emerged, including separate sections for toddlers and older kids, physically accessible play features, calm/gentle play spaces, more seating, gender-neutral washrooms, warmer water and stroller parking.

September 1, 2020

The City conducted an online public meeting to present background information about the project and gather feedback from the community to inform the final splash pad design.

Download the:

• summary report
• presentation