Huron-Washington Parkette Playground Improvements

Construction of the new playground at 420 Huron St. will continue until mid-November. The temporary playground across the street will be removed once the new playground opens. Visit the Project Updates section for more information.

 

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

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 Rachel Weston at 416-937-3481.

  • Fall 2023: Community engagement to develop a playground design
  • Winter 2024: Detailed design
  • Winter 2025: Hire a construction team
  • Spring 2026: Construction starts, playground closes
  • Late 2026: Construction complete, playground reopens

The timeline is subject to change.

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October 2026

Construction Update

Construction of the new playground is progressing well and is expected to be completed in mid-November 2026. Once the new playground opens, the temporary playground across the street will be removed. The temporary playground is located on University of Toronto property and was installed under a temporary license agreement that requires the site to be restored to its previous condition once the new playground is complete.

August 2026

Construction Update

Remediation work has been completed and construction of the new playground is underway.

September 2025

Construction Update

Soil remediation (the process of removing contaminants from soil) is required before construction for the new playground can begin. A soil management plan is underway and will be completed in fall 2025. Playground construction is anticipated to start in spring 2026.

March 2024

Final Playground Design

The final design for the new Huron Washington Parkette playground, which has been refined based on community feedback. The playground area will include the play features listed following the image.

  • Swing set with one basket swing, one belt seat and one accessible seat
  • Sensory dome climber
  • Balancing rope obstacle course leading to play tower with single slide
  • Overhead spinning hand wheels
  • Rock climbing feature
  • Two spinner bowls

Plan view of final design of new playground with junior and senior playground structures and swings. The new playground includes rubber surfacing, a mulch and sand box nature play area, concrete walkways, accessible benches, games tables and ping pong table.

 

  1. Proposed bollard lights along pathway
  2. Existing unit pavers to remain
  3. Proposed natural play area (mulch surfacing with log edge, accessible entrance and boulders)
  4. Proposed sand play area with log edge and vertical log steppers
  5. Proposed rubberized play surface
  6. Proposed tables with shade umbrellas and chess boards on concrete pad (one table to be accessible with 3 seats)
  7. Proposed rubberized safety play surfacing for new play equipment (preferred option for new play equipment shown)
  8. Proposed swing set with multi-child basket swing
  9. Proposed outdoor ping-pong table on concrete pad
  10. Proposed accessible benches on concrete pad
  11. Existing lawn area to remain
  12. Proposed deciduous tree planting
  13. Existing trees to be protected
  14. Proposed concrete playground edge
  15. Existing small hill to remain
  16. Proposed lights
  17. Proposed water bottle filler
  18. Proposed pedestrian gate
  19. Proposed ornamental metal fence

October 2023

Online Survey

From October 16 to October 30, 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 247 responses.

The design team will use this feedback to refine a final design. The final design will be available on this page in winter 2024.

Key Feedback Highlights
  • When asked to rank their playground design preferences, respondents ranked Playground Design B highest (40 per cent) followed by Playground Design A (29 per cent), Playground Design D (16 per cent) and Playground Design C (15 per cent).
  • When asked to rank their climbing structure preference, respondents ranked dome rope climber the highest (29 per cent) followed by pyramid rope climber (21 per cent), tower rope climber (21 per cent), pyramid rope climber with slide (16 per cent) and bamboo-themed obstacle course climber (14 per cent).
  • The preferred design for the north area of the playground was Design A (70 per cent) followed by Design B (30 per cent).
  • Respondents shared that the three most important features to include in the new playground are:
    • senior play structure for ages five to 12
    • climbing structures
    • junior play structure for ages two to five
  • Respondents shared that the three least important features to include in the new playground are:
    • stand-up spinner toys
    • play panels
    • bamboo-themed obstacle course climber
  • If budget permits, the three features respondents would like more of in the improved playground are:
    • climbing structures
    • toddler swings
    • junior play structure for ages two to five
  • For seating around the playground:
    • 49 per cent of respondents like seatwalls
    • 40 per cent of respondents like benches
    • 11 per cent of respondents like picnic tables
  • 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 purple (39 per cent)
  • Other feedback requesting shade elements was provided in the survey.
Playground Site Plan

A rendering of the playground site plan for the Huron Washington Parkette. The plan illustrates the playground area as an oval shape with rubber surfacing and concrete walkway accessing the playground from Huron Street. Benches, games tables and ping pong tables are located on the north end of the playground off of the concrete walkway. Playground equipment including climbing structures and a swing set are located in the rubber surface area. A sand box and nature play area is provided on the west side of the playground under the existing trees.

  1. Proposed concrete pathway
  2. Existing unit pavers to remain
  3. Proposed natural play area (mulch surfacing with log edge, accessible entrance and boulders)
  4. Proposed sand play area with log edge and accessible transfer station
  5. Proposed natural log “obstacle course” on rubberized play surface
  6. Proposed chess tables on concrete pad
  7. Proposed rubberized play area for new play equipment
  8. Proposed swing set with multi-child basket swing
  9. Proposed ping-pong table on concrete pad
  10. Proposed accessible benches on concrete pad
  11. Existing lawn area to remain
  12. Proposed deciduous tree planting
  13. Existing trees to be protected
  14. Proposed concrete playground edge
  15. Existing berm (small hill) to remain
  16. Proposed lights
  17. Proposed water bottle filler
  18. Proposed pedestrian gate
  19. Proposed ornamental metal fence
Playground Options

All four 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 Huron Washington Parkette looking to the north from the south. From the lower-left to the upper-right, it includes a dome rope climber with sensory activities at the lower level, a spinner bowl, a supernova spinner wheel, a senior climbing structure and a swing set.

Playground Design A includes:

  • Swing set with one basket swing, three belt seats and one accessible seat
  • Sensory dome net climber
  • Supernova spinner (for multiple children)
  • Two solo spinner bowls
  • Stand-up spinner
  • Freestanding play structure with rope climber, spinner and rock-climbing wall
Playground Design B

A rendering of playground Design B for the Huron Washington Parkette looking to the north from the south. From the lower-left to the upper-right, it includes a pyramid rope climber a senior climbing structure with a rope climbing obstacle course, rock climbing block and a swing set.

Playground Design B includes:

  • Swing set with one basket swing, one belt seat and one accessible seat
  • Tree climber (large net climber)
  • Balancing rope obstacle course leading to play tower with single slide
  • Overhead spinning hand wheels
  • Rock climbing feature
  • Two spinner bowls
Playground Design C

A rendering of playground Design C for the Huron Washington Parkette looking to the above from the north to the south. From the lower-left to the upper-right, a spinner toy, swing set, overhead spinner, balance toy, tall net climber and a monkey bar challenge circuit.

Playground Design C includes:

  • Swing set with one basket swing, two belt seats, one baby seat and one accessible seat
  • Tall net climber
  • Overhead multi-user spinner
  • Freestanding challenge circuit with multiple climbers and overhead bars
  • Freestanding balance element
Playground Design D

A rendering of playground Design D for the Huron Washington Parkette looking from the north to the south. From the lower-left to the upper-right, swing set, spinner bowl, spinner standing feature, pyramid rope climber with slide and “Bamboo Jungle” bamboo-themed obstacle course climber.

Playground Design D includes:

  • Swing set with one basket swing, one belt seat, one baby seat and one accessible seat
  • Large rope climber with single slide and rope challenge bridge
  • Bamboo-themed obstacle course climber
  • Optional solo play elements (e.g. spinner bowl, Spica spinner, springer)
North Area in Playground Design A

Numbered map shows north area in Playground Design A. From lower left to upper right, it includes an ornamental fence along Huron Street, a splash pad, a concrete pathway along the northern edge of the splash pad that connects the Huron Street entrance to the existing unit pavers, the existing lawn area, three accessible benches, a ping pong table, a natural play area, two game tables, and existing unit pavers.

  1. Concrete pathway
  2. Existing unit pavers to remain
  3. Natural play area (wood balance stepping posts)
  4. Two game tables on concrete pad
  5. Ping pong table on concrete pad
  6. Three accessible benches on concrete pad
  7. Ornamental metal fence
  8. Existing lawn area to remain
North Area in Playground Design B

Numbered map shows north area in Playground Design B. From lower left to upper right, it includes an ornamental fence along Huron Street, a splash pad, a concrete pathway along the northern edge of the splash pad that connects the Huron Street entrance to the existing unit pavers, the existing lawn area, three accessible benches, two game tables, a children’s picnic table, a natural log obstacle course on a rubberized surface play hill, and existing unit pavers.

  1. Concrete pathway
  2. Existing unit pavers to remain
  3. Natural log “obstacle course” on rubberized surface play hill
  4. Children’s picnic table
  5. Two game tables on concrete pad
  6. Three accessible benches on concrete pad
  7. Ornamental metal fence
  8. Existing lawn area to remain

Community Pop-Up

On October 26, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., over 60 community members participated in a pop-up event at Huron Washington Parkette at 420 Huron St. The pop-up allowed community members to provide feedback to the project team in person, either verbally or using pop-up boards. Four members of the project team were available to collect feedback and answer questions.

The design team will use this feedback to refine a final design. The final design will be available on this page in winter 2024.

Key feedback, with the total number of “agree” responses in parentheses, includes:

  • When asked to identify a preferred playground design option:
    • Option A (62)
    • Option B (27)
    • Option C (25)
    • Option D (seven)
  • When asked to identify a preferred climbing structure:
    • Dome rope climber (14)
    • Rope tower (five)
    • Bamboo-themed obstacle course climber (four)
    • Pyramid climber (three)
    • Pyramid climber with slide (one)
  • When asked to identify a preferred north area design option:
    • Option 1 (14)
    • Option 2 (nine)
  • Other comments shared at the pop-up include:
    • Shade should be provided
    • Junior play areas should be provided

November 2021

An online survey was opened on October 20, 2021, to gather feedback from the community on preferences for the new playground features and design. During the online survey period, multiple community members requested that the proposed playground area be enlarged to include more play features, and that the temporary playground located south of Washington Avenue remain in place (refer to the image in the About the Project section for an overview of these locations). There were 15 responses to the online survey, which will be summarized and posted to this page.

The survey was closed early and based on the feedback received from the community, the size and location of the proposed playground is currently under review. Huron-Washington Parkette is owned by the University of Toronto School, who lease the land to the City for the purpose of a public parkette. During the design process, the City will explore opportunities to improve the playground area based on feedback received from the community. Once the playground options are developed, a public meeting will take place and a new survey will be posted in early 2022 to share and collect feedback on these playground options.

The temporary playground is property of the University of Toronto School and will not remain in place once the new playground is installed.

Huron-Washington Parkette is located at 420 Huron St. and previously had a playground that was removed in 2019 to accommodate the construction of the University of Toronto Schools (UTS) building addition. The parkette is located on land that is leased to the City by the University of Toronto. During construction of the new UTS building, a temporary playground was installed across the street, at the southwest corner of Huron Street and Washington Avenue. The temporary playground will be removed once the new playground is installed in the parkette.

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

  • New playground equipment for all ages and abilities
  • Rubber surfacing
  • A new pathway
  • Bottle filling station
  • Seating
  • A sand box

Improvements will only be made in the playground area and will not include improvements to other areas of the parkette.
Date modified: November 4, 2026