Elkhorn Parkette Playground Improvements

Review the most recent survey results in the Project Updates section.

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

  • September 2022: Community engagement (online survey)
  • October 2022 to March 2023: Detailed design and hire a construction team
  • Summer 2023: Construction starts
  • Fall 2023: Construction complete, playground reopens

The timeline is subject to change.

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September 2022

Online Survey

From June 17 to September 10, 2022, feedback on multiple playground design options was collected in an online survey. The survey was promoted through paid social media ads, outreach to nearby schools, the local Councillor’s office, on-site signage, and on this page. The survey received a total of 418 responses.

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

Key Feedback Highlights

  • When asked to rank their playground design preference, respondents ranked Playground Design B highest (39 per cent) followed by Playground Design C (33 per cent) and Playground Design A (28 per cent).
  • Respondents shared that the three most important features to include in the new playground are:
    • Climbing structures
    • The senior play structure
    • The junior play structure
  • Respondents shared that the three least important features to include in the new playground are:
    • Play panels
    • Stand-up spinner toys
    • Stand-alone toys (eg. Teeter totter)
  • If budget permits, the three features respondents would like more of in the improved playground are:
    • Climbing structures
    • The senior play structure
    • Belt swings
  • For seating around the playground:
    • 85 per cent of respondents like benches
    • 59 per cent of respondents like picnic tables
    • 52 per cent of respondents like seatwalls
  • The preferred colour scheme for the new playground was bright colours, like yellow, orange, and purple (54 per cent) over earthy colours like green, brown, and grey (32 per cent).
  • The preferred ground cover for the playground is wood chips (48 per cent).
Playground Options

All three 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 Elkhorn Parkette Playground improvements, looking to the west from the east, showing in the foreground a teeter totter, a senior slide with climbing structure, and in the background a separate junior structure.

Design A includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • Two belt swings
    • One toddler swing
    • One accessible swing
  • One junior play structure for ages 18 months to five years with:
    • Double slide with waves
    • A rock climber
    • Safari and outback-themed panels and play tables:
      • a steering wheel
      • a telescope panel
      • a mushroom game counter
      • a paddle bench
      • safari table
    • Leaf ornaments for shade
    • Transfer stations
  • One senior play structure for ages six to 12 with:
    • A wave slide
    • Variety of climbers including a six-foot tall climber
    • A cable net
    • Four climbing options
    • Spiral stepping stone
  • Frog spring climber
    Standing teeter totter
Playground Design B

A rendering of playground Design B for the Elkhorn Parkette Playground improvements, looking to the southeast from the northwest, showing in the foreground a junior play structure and stand-alone spring toy, in the background a senior structure with small slide, a spinner toy, and the swingset.

Design B includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • Two belt swings
    • One toddler swing
    • One accessible swing
  • One junior play structure for ages 18 months to five years with:
    • One steep double slide
    • Play panels and climbers:
      • leaves steering wheel
      • Lemonade game counter
    • Honeycomb climber
    • A roof for partial shade
    • Transfer stations
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • A wave slide
    • Spiral stepping stone
    • Net bridge
    • Overhead loop ladder
    • Variety of climbers
    • Cable net
    • A hammock
  • Standing teeter trotter
  • Spinner (used in a sitting position or kneeling)
Playground Design C

A rendering of a bird's eye view looking north-east of playground Design C for the Elkhorn Parkette Playground improvements, showing all play features except for the swings.

Design C includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • Two belt swings
    • One toddler swing
    • One accessible swing
  • One junior play structure for ages 18 months to five with:
    • Double toto slide
    • Variety of panels: fort magnifying panel, for bench panel, honey bee panel,
    • Climbers: stepping pod, ring climber, grab bar
    • Stump (transfer station)
    • Motion toy
    • Fort roof for partial shade
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • Wave slide
    • Variety of climbers: single lava rock climber, vertical tringle link, cluster climber, double wave climber,
    • reach panel
    • zigzag rope balance bar
    • Trapeze arc and accessible trapeze beam
    • Transfer station
  • Motion toy
  • Barrel spinner

Elkhorn Parkette Playground is located at Elkhorn Drive and Whittaker Crescent, on the western side of Elkhorn Parkette, near Elkhorn Public School.

The playground currently includes:

  • Two swing sets with:
    • two swings for ages two to five
    • four swings for ages five and up
  • A medium-sized slide
  • A junior climbing structure
  • Sand under all play areas

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

  • Playground equipment for ages eighteen months to 12 years
  • Additional seating
  • Engineered wood fibre playground surfacing
  • Accessible play equipment and an accessible pathway connecting to the playground area. This means that people of all abilities will be able to play at this playground

The playground location will be determined using community feedback. Improvements will only be made in the general playground area and will not include any new water or lighting features. Other areas of the park, including the existing pathway, will not be improved as part of this project.