Fred Hamilton Playground & Wading Pool Enhancements

Improvements are coming to Fred Hamilton Playground! The City is upgrading the playground and replacing the concrete wading pool with a new splash pad.

  • Spring to Summer 2021: Community engagement
  • Early Winter 2021 to Spring 2022: Design
  • Winter 2022: Hire a construction team
  • April 2023: Construction starts
  • December 2023: Construction complete

The timeline is subject to change.

August 2021

Online Survey

From August 5 to August 29, 2021, feedback on the playground design, equipment options and water play was collected in an online survey. The survey received 181 responses, which included input from 462 participants.

Download the survey summary report.

The final design for the playground and water play improvements was developed using feedback from the community and includes:

  • A new splash pad at the centre of the park with:
    • in-ground spray features
    • arched spray features
  • A small junior play area near the splash pad with:
    • log steps
    • log balance beams
    • sand box
  • A senior play area at the north side of the park with:
    • large wood play structure with slides
    • belt swings, toddler swings and a basket swing
    • log climbing structure
    • wood deck
    • existing shade structure
  • An open lawn area at the south side of the park
  • A new north entrance and pathway to the park from Roxton Road

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 Martin Balgavy at 416-392-8409 or Martin.Balgavy@toronto.ca.
The plan for the Fred Hamilton Park improvements, which outlines the location of the open lawn (south side of park), splash pad (centre of park), junior play area (beside splash pad), senior play area (north side of park) and a new park entrance at the north side of the park that connects to Roxton Road. The pathway system throughout the park connects the north and south park entrances, with a pathway loop around the senior play area and splash pad.

  1. Large wood play structure with slides
  2. Log climbing structure
  3. Existing shade structure
  4. Swings
  5. Wood deck
  6. Log balance beams
  7. Fallen log
  8. Log steps
  9. In-ground spray features
  10. Arched spray features

Fred Hamilton Playground is a 1.6-hectare park located at 155 Roxton Rd. near College Street and Ossington Avenue. The children’s playground and wading pool at the south end of the park are being improved with the following features:

  • New accessible play equipment
  • New splash pad equipment including a variety of in-ground and above-ground spray and water features for all ages
  • An accessible pathway to the playground
  • Additional seating
  • Shade structures
  • Outdoor fitness equipment
  • Community gardens

The City is proposing to replace and upgrade the playground equipment while adding seating and an accessible walkway to the playground. The existing trees surrounding the playground and wading pool will be preserved. The scope of work will not include any new lighting features.

Fred Hamilton Playground and Wading Pool Today

The playground currently includes:

  • Swings
  • A small stand-alone slide
  • A small stand-alone slide with three climbing options
  • Play panels
  • A spring toy
  • A small sandbox
  • Six stand-alone toys
  • Sand play surfacing under all playground equipment
  • A concrete wading pool

An image of some of the stand-alone play elements surrounding the wading pool. The play elements sit on top of grass, are red and yellow in colour and include a small sand box, play panels and see-saw.

Concept Design

There are three playground design options. All three options involve relocating the playground to the northern area of the park. The new splash pad will replace the wading pool in its existing location.

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 Martin Balgavy at 416-392-8409 or Martin.Balgavy@toronto.ca.

Option 1

The layout for Option 1 is inspired by the existing diagonal paths in the park and includes:

  • Zig-zag pathways through the park creating defined areas for the park features
  • A playground on the north end of the park
  • A splash pad or wading pool in the centre of the park, next to a shade structure
  • An outdoor fitness station, and community gardens at the south end of the park
  • Preservation of the existing mature trees
  • Connection to the street at the north end of the park to the existing south entrance

A sketch-style concept plan for the playground and wading pool enhancements. The layout is defined by the zig-zag pathway that connects the north to the south end of the park. The playground is shown in pink, the splash pad is shown in blue, the outdoor fitness area is shown in light brown and the new plantings are shown in purple focused in the center of the park.

Option 2

The layout for Option 2 is inspired by the existing linear form of the park and includes:

  • A long continuous configuration of the park features along the east edge of the park
  • A pathway weaving in and out that connects from north to south
  • A playground on the north end of the park
  • A splash pad or wading pool in the centre of the park, next to a shade structure
  • An outdoor fitness station and community gardens at the south end of the park
  • Planting beds and trees dividing the space between the park features
  • Open green lawn space on the west side of the park

A sketch-style concept plan for the playground and wading pool enhancements. The layout has all the park amenities along the east edge of the park with open lawn space on the other side along Roxton road. The playground is shown in pink, the splash pad is shown in blue, the outdoor fitness area is shown in light brown and the new plantings are shown in purple focused at the east end of the park between the park features.

Option 3

The layout for Option 3 has a curved design and includes:

  • A curved pathway system that winds around the playground and splash pad or wading pool
  • Secluded community gardens at the south end of the park
  • An oval playground on the north end of the park
  • A splash pad or wading pool in the centre of the park, next to a shade structure
  • An outdoor fitness station between the playground and splash pad or wading pool

A sketch-style concept plan for the playground and wading pool enhancements. The layout is defined by curved pathways that connects the north to the south end of the park. The community garden is isolated near the east edge of the park near the existing south park entrance. The playground is shown in pink, the splash pad is shown in blue, the outdoor fitness area is shown in light brown and the new plantings are shown in purple.