New Park at Wilson Avenue & Faywood Boulevard

Review and provide feedback on the preferred park design. The online survey closes on July 16, 2023.
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A new 973m2 park (smaller than a hockey rink, larger than a basketball court) is coming to the northeast corner of Wilson Avenue and Faywood Boulevard. The new park will be accessible and include a play/fitness area. A dogs off-leash area will not be included due to the park’s limited size.

  • 2021: Hire a design team
  • Spring 2022 to Summer 2023: Community engagement and design development
  • Fall 2023 to Spring 2024: Detailed design
  • Spring 2024: Construction starts
  • 2025: Construction complete, park opens

The timeline is subject to change.

Online Survey

June 22 to July 16, 2023

Take the online survey to review and provide feedback on the preferred design for the new park.

If you require accommodations to complete the survey or a paper copy, please contact 416 318 1887 or Alex.Lavasidis@toronto.ca.

Park Naming

This park does not have a name yet. At the end of the design process, parks are often given names that describe the park’s location (e.g. Princess Street Park). Alternatively, community members can develop and submit proposals for a commemorative park name before the end of the park design process. A proposal to give a park a commemorative name instead of a location-based name is first reviewed by City staff, and then needs to be approved by Community Council.

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The preferred design was developed based on the feedback collected during Community Engagement Phase 1 and Phase 2. These designs are presented to community members for feedback in Phase 3.

The vision for the park is to be an accessible, safe, and beautiful new park that includes features for all age groups. Features should include a play space, an “active” space, green space (including planting beds and trees), shade, community gathering spots and a range of seating options.

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 Katie Black at 416-338-0224.

A compilation image that shows an aerial rendering of the park layout, with callout rendering for each area. The park is located at the northeast corner of Faywood Blvd and Wilson Ave.The northeast half of the park has blue coloured rubber and concrete surfacing, with the southwest portion of the park including a permeable pathway and lawn. From north to south end of the park the spaced include a splash pad with water jets, play area with disk swing and cup spinners, café seating area with circular tables and chairs and metal umbrellas for shade, and active space with "bamboo" climber and climbing workout station, and plantings and a park sign on the Wilson Ave frontage. West of the active space, across from the main park pathways, is an area for picnic table seating. There are trees planted throughout the park to provide shade, plentiful benches and plantings along the perimetre of the park, and lighting along the main park path. There are six entry and exit ways, three on the east side and three on the west side, spaced fairly evenly through the park.
Overview of Preferred Park Design with rendered callouts.
A rendered aerial view of the park layout, with numbered labels throughout. The park is located at the northeast corner of Faywood Blvd and Wilson Ave. The northeast half of the park has blue coloured rubber and concrete surfacing, with the southwest portion of the park including a permeable pathway and lawn. From north to south end of the park the spaced include a splash pad with water jets, play area with disk swing and cup spinners, café seating area with circular tables and chairs and metal umbrellas for shade, and active space with "bamboo" climber and climbing workout station, and plantings and a park sign on the Wilson Ave frontage. West of the active space, across from the main park pathways, is an area for picnic table seating. There are trees planted throughout the park to provide shade, plentiful benches and plantings along the perimetre of the park, and lighting along the main park path. There are six entry and exit ways, three on the east side and three on the west side, spaced fairly evenly through the park. There is a bright pink line around most of the park perimeter which shows where mid-height fencing will be installed.
Preferred Park Design labeled layout.

Legend

  1. Splash pad
    • Blue concrete surfacing
    • Water jets
  2. Play area for kids and toddlers
    • Blue rubber surfacing
    • Two spinner bowls
    • One disk swing
  3. Café table seating area
    • Tables and chairs fixed in place
    • Metal umbrellas for shade
    • Table space for people using
      mobility devices and strollers
  4. Active space for tweens, teens and adults
    • Blue rubber surfacing
    • “Bamboo” climbing jungle
    • Fitness and climbing workout station
  5. Park sign
  6. Lawn with small hill
  7. Flat lawn seating area with extra-large picnic tables, eight person seated capacity per table
  8. Tall light poles
  9. Fence around park perimeter (pink)
  10. Native planting beds on small hills
  11. Paths made of permeable pavers, allows rainwater to flow into the soil below
  12. Long, curved wooden benches with backs, spaces for people using mobility devices between benches along pathway
  13. Drinking fountain/ bottle filler/dog bowl
  14. Bike parking, exact location in the right-of-way along Faywood Boulevard to be determined
  15. Waste Bins

This preferred design reflects the community-driven park vision (developed in community engagement phase 1), and responds to key community feedback (collected in community engagement phase 2):

Community Feedback Response
Preference for water jets over water tunnel for the splash pad. Water jets provided.
Provide features for all ages. Active space for tweens teens and adults, separate play area for kids and toddlers, and an all ages splash pad.
Play Option A is preferred, but dislike the musical and junior play features. Keep disk swing, fitness climber and bamboo climbers from Option A, and replace musical play features, and junior play features with spinner bowls.
Provide shade. More trees added throughout the park, and multiple metal umbrellas provided over café area. There were previously 15 trees proposed, now there are 22.
Provide community gathering spots and a range of seating options, including accessible seating. Benches throughout the park, café seating area located centrally, and extra large picnic table seating. Spaces for people using mobility devices provided at café tables and in between benches along pathways.
Include greenspace. The park is surrounded in planting beds, with trees providing greenery and shade throughout, and a small grassy hill at the south end.
Add barriers to prevent children from running into traffic while maintaining sightlines. Plantings, benches, and fences along the perimeter of the park with set entry and exit points.
Provide a drinking fountain and dog bowl. Provided.
Preference for blue surfacing (rubber and concrete). Blue surface included.
Include bike parking. Bike parking will be provided in the right-of-way along Faywood.

Draft design options were developed based on the feedback collected during Community Engagement Phase 1. In Community Engagement Phase 2, these designs were presented to community members for feedback.

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 Katie Black at 416-338-0224.

Park Layout

An Aerial Map with labels of the Park Layout. From north to south, the space flows from a splash pad, to a play and fitness area, to a café seating area and then lawn areas with seating and a small hill. There are accessible pathways, lighting, seating, planting, and trees throughout the site.

  1. Splash pad with rubber surfacing
  2. Play and fitness area with rubber surfacing
  3. Café table seating area with rubber surfacing
  4. Flat lawn seating area with picnic tables
  5. Lawn with small hill
  6. Native planting beds on small hills
  7. Paths made of permeable pavers (these pavers allow rainwater to flow through them and into the soil below)
  8. Light poles (tall)
  9. Light bollards (short)
  10. Drinking fountain and bottle filling station
  11. Park sign
  12. Long, curved wooden benches with backs

Café Table Seating Area

This seating area is located on accessible rubberized surfacing, south of the play and fitness area. It includes sets of café style tables and chairs with umbrellas for shade, as well as wooden bench seating along the east side of the park with round café tables. The tables and chairs are fixed in place (cannot be moved). Trees throughout the space provide additional shade. Light posts provide lighting.

The Café and seating area is located in the centre of the image, on accessible colourful rubberized surfacing. It is south of the play and fitness area, visible in the background. The seating area includes café style tables and chairs with umbrellas for shade, as well as wooden bench seating along the east (right) side of the park with round café tables. Trees throughout the space provide additional shade. Tall light posts and shorter light bollards provide lighting. There is a pathway made of permeable pavers (which let water through when it rains) to the west (left) of this seating area.

Lawn Seating Area

This space provides a flat grassy area with picnic tables and trees provide shade.

In the centre of the image is a flat grassy area with green picnic tables. Trees in the space provide shade. This is a great spot for a picnic. In the front of the image is a native planting bed with purple flowers. Behind the grassy area is a pathway, and behind that is a rubberized surface with café tables, seating, and umbrellas.

Play and Fitness Area Option A

An Aerial Map with labels of the Play and Fitness Area Option A, located at the North end of the park. Long benches line the north and east sides of the space with a path along the south and west sides. The splash pad is on the north end with the fitness and play features in the south end. The entire space has colourful rubber surfacing. There are four large trees throughout the space to provide shade.

  1. Splash pad: This area will include either water jets or a water tunnel feature that park users can turn on with a button in warmer seasons. The surface under the splash pad is rubber.
  2. Disc swing: A circular disc swing held up by two large posts. The swing can be used by both groups and individuals and is AODA accessible.
  3. “Bamboo” climbing jungle: Inspired by parkour, this grouping of large climbable “bamboo” stems are colour coded and provide different levels of climbing challenge, for a range of skill levels and abilities. Climb up or across the stems.
  4. Junior turning point (spinner): This play feature  is suitable for younger children and is a bright stainless steel ball that allows for balance and imaginative play. Users can stand or lean on the ball, which will begin to rotate. This challenges and helps to build balancing skills.
  5. Junior jumper: This play feature is suitable for younger children and is a bright stainless steel ball that allows for balance and imaginative play. Users can stand on or lean against the ball, which has a small bounce. This challenges and helps to build balancing skills.
  6. Fitness and climbing workout station: This  equipment is designed to suit  a wide range of age groups (e.g. children, teens, adults and older adults) and fitness levels. The equipment can be used for  play or fitness. It includes a number of different climbing/fitness features at different heights that could be used for calisthenics.
  7. Djmebe drums: These drums are a percussion instrument originally from West Africa played with bare hands. Musical features like Djmebe Drums are accessible, can be enjoyed by all ages and are considered a sensory play feature.
  8. Chime fence: A chime fence is a set of large, people-sized metal pipes arranged in a row that are tapped to produce music. Each pipe sounds like a different musical note. Musical features like the chime fence are accessible, can be enjoyed by all ages, and are considered a sensory play feature.

Play and Fitness Area Option B

An Aerial Map with labels of the Play and Fitness Area Option B, located at the North end of the park. Long benches line the north and east sides of the space with a path along the south and west sides. The splash pad is on the north end with the fitness and play features in the south end. The entire space has colourful rubber surfacing. There are four large trees throughout the space to provide shade.

  1. Splash pad: This area will include either water jets or a water tunnel feature that park users can turn on with a  button in warmer seasons. The surface under the splash pad is rubber.
  2. Boulder climber: A freestanding “boulder” sculpture with a wide range of climbing holds that can be used for fitness or play by a wide range of age groups, skill levels, and abilities. Different colored “routes” keep the difficulty level varied, so that it can be easy to get started but remains challenging as skills grow.
  3. “Bamboo” climbing jungle: Inspired by parkour, this grouping of large climbable “bamboo” stems are colour coded and provide different levels of climbing challenge, for a range of skill levels and abilities. Climb up or across the stems.
  4. Net climber: A tall, slightly twisting climbing net that can be used for play or exercise, by a wide range of age groups.
  5. Junior turning point (spinner): This  play feature is suitable for younger children and is a bright stainless steel ball that allows for balance and imaginative play. Users can stand or lean on the ball, which will begin to rotate. This challenges and helps to build balancing skills.
  6. Junior Jumper: This play feature is suitable for  younger children and is a bright stainless steel ball that allows for balance and imaginative play. Users can stand on or lean against the ball, which has a small bounce. This challenges and helps to build balancing skills.

Splash Pad Option A: Water Jets

Splash Pad Option A features a set of water jets that shoot straight up. Water from the jets pools slightly to allow for puddle play. Park users can turn the splash pad on in warmer seasons by pressing a button.

A rendering of Splash Pad Option A, showing vertical in-ground water jets in the centre of the image, spraying water upwards. There is a water puddle under the jets. To the left is a child under a tree, playing in the water jets. Further left is a green drinking fountain and bottle filler. Behind and to the right of the jets is a long wooden bench with a back. Two people are sitting on the bench watching the child play. Under the splash pad is a colourful rubberized surface.

Splash Pad Option B: Water Tunnel

Splash Pad Option B features a set of angled water jets that create a “water tunnel” to move under or through. Water from the jets pools slightly to allow for puddle play. Park users can turn the splash pad on in warmer seasons by pressing a button.

A rendering of Splash Pad Option B. In the centre of the image are in-ground water jets that create a tunnel of water to move through or under. There is a water puddle under the jets. To the left is a child playing in the water jets. Behind the jets is a long wooden bench with a back. Two people are sitting on the bench watching the child play. Under the splash pad is a colourful rubberized surface.

A community-driven park vision was developed through community engagement phase 1. The park vision is an accessible, safe, and beautiful new park that includes features for all age groups. Features should include a play space, an “active” space, green space (including planting beds and trees), shade, community gathering spots and a range of seating options.

In this phase of the community engagement process, community members were asked to provide ideas and feedback to help develop draft designs for the new park. High-level summaries of the most popular ideas and feedback collected during this phase is provided below.

The design team will use this feedback to create a draft park design which will be shared with the community for further feedback and refinement.

Park Vision

The following vision was developed using feedback collected during this phase:

An accessible, safe, and beautiful new park that includes features for all age groups. Features should include a play space, an “active” space, greenspace (including planting beds and trees), shade, community gathering spots and a range of seating options.

May 2022

Online Survey

Over 880 people responded to an online survey between April 20 and May 8, 2022, providing 499 ideas and over 9,000 idea ratings. In addition to English, one survey each was completed in Persian, Korean, Portuguese and Tagalog.

Key Feedback
  • Incorporate plenty of greenspace, plantings, and trees to create a lush and restorative space
  • Include features and spaces that appeal to teens, adults, and older adults
  • Ensure the park is accessible to people of all abilities (including those with mobility devices, sensory, and other special needs).
  • Provide a variety of seating options, with a preference for benches and picnic tables and seatwalls.
  • Provide shade throughout the park, which could include trees, a covered pavilion, and/or umbrellas.
  • Ensure safety by including:
    • Lighting to allow for more evening uses
    • Barriers or buffers (e.g. fences, gates, planters, trees) to prevent children or balls from running onto busy roads
    • Good sightlines into and through the park
    • An emergency buzzer
    • Options to prevent hidden or littered needles
    • Smoking deterrents
  • Keep the park clean and well-maintained by including waste, recycling, and dog waste bins, and by considering maintenance requirements and graffiti prevention
  • Include features that are not available at nearby parks, providing more variety for residents. Consider including activities like:
    • A splash pad
    • Exercise/fitness equipment
    • Basketball
    • Skateboarding
  • Include exciting playground features for all ages and abilities. Popular preferences include climbing, sliding and balancing activities, bright colours, and rubber surfacing.
  • Build a park that encourages gathering and community, where people of all ages and abilities can gather, spend time, and meet their neighbours.
  • Build a beautiful park that transforms the Wilson Ave streetscape and community.

Review all raw ideas and rankings.

Classroom Workshops

On Friday, May 6, 2022, project staff held four classroom workshops at Faywood Arts-Based Curriculum School for approximately 60 students in grades one, two, three, seven and eight.

Key Feedback
  • The most popular park features suggested by students in grades seven and eight include:
    • Lots of seating including benches, picnic tables, and hammocks
    • Lots of trees and planting areas
    • A playground that includes swings and slides.
    • A gazebo or cabana
    • Open space or grassy areas
  • Other popular park feature suggestions by older students included a basketball court (or half court), a drinking fountain/bottle filler, a multi-sport court, a splash pad and lighting
  • The most popular park features suggested by students in grades one, two and three include:
    • A playground with slide, swings, climbing structures, group spinners and large themed play structures/playhouses.
    • A splash pad with water jets; water tunnels; water mushrooms; and colourful light-up splash pads.
  • Other popular park feature suggestions by younger students included greenery, string lighting, decorative fountains, sculptural group seating, fitness equipment; colourful rubber landscapes, a ‘little library’, trampolines, monkey bars, animal homes and games tables.

Community Pop-Up

On Friday, May 6, 2022, approximately 125 people participated in a pop-up outside of Faywood Arts-Based Curriculum School from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Most participants were 13 years old or younger.

Key Feedback
  • The two most popular playground activities are climbing and spinning.
  • Rubber is greatly preferred over wood fibre for the playground surface.
  • Bright colours are greatly preferred over earthy colours for the playground.
  • Seatwalls are the most popular form of seating.
  • The two most popular feature suggestions for the new park are a splash pad and a basketball court.

In this phase of the community engagement process, draft design options for the new park were presented to the local community for feedback and revisions. The design team will use this feedback to refine a proposed park design, which will be shared with the community for further feedback and refinement.

January to February 2023

Online Survey

From January 18 to February 26, 2023, an online survey received over 500 submissions with 1,270 participants. Survey participants were able to review and provide feedback on draft design options for the new park, which were developed based on the feedback collected in Community Engagement Phase 1.

Key Feedback

Play and fitness features:

  • The four most popular play and fitness features, in order of preference, were the boulder climber, fitness and climbing workout station, bamboo climber, and the disk swing.
  • The least popular play and fitness features were the junior turning point spinner, the junior jumper, and the music features djmebe drums and chime fence.
  • 44 per cent preferred Play and Fitness Option A (included disc swing, “bamboo” climbing jungle, fitness and climbing workout station, junior turning point (spinner), junior jumper, djmebe drums, and chime fence).
    • 38 per cent preferred Play and Fitness Option B (included boulder climber, bamboo climber, net climber, junior turning point (spinner), and junior jumper).
    • 18 per cent had no preference.

Splash pad:

  • 81 per cent liked the inclusion of a splash pad in the design.
  • 90 per cent liked the location of the splash pad.
  • 59 per cent preferred the water jets option.
    • 31 per cent preferred the Water Tunnel option.
    • 10 per cent had no preference.

Seating areas:

  • 83 per cent liked the proposed café table seating area a lot or a little.
    • 9 per cent were neutral, 8 per cent disliked it a little or a lot, and 1 per cent were not sure.
  • 83 per cent liked the proposed flat lawn (picnic table) seating area a lot or a little.
    • 10 per cent were neutral, 6 per cent disliked it a little or a lot, and 1 per cent were not sure.

The highest ranked colours for the rubber surfacing under the splash pad, play and fitness area, and seating areas were aqua blues.

Overall design:

  • 75 per cent liked the proposed park layout a lot or a little.
    • 20 per cent were neutral, 2 per cent disliked it a lot or a little, and 2 per cent were not sure.
  • Key comments/suggestions included:
    • Participants noted safety concerns and requested a fence or barriers between play areas and the street.
    • Participants requested more shade.
    • Participants requested more accessibility within the park, including seating options, play equipment and a variety of table sizes.

Classroom Workshops

On  February 23, 2023, the project team held four classroom workshops at Faywood Arts-Based Curriculum School for approximately 70 students in grades one, three, four, seven and eight.

Key Feedback

Play and fitness features:

  • The four most popular play and fitness features, in order of preference, were the bamboo climber, disk swing, fitness and climbing workout station, and the boulder climber.
  • The majority of students did not like the music features (djmebe drums/chime fence). Many also disliked the junior turning point spinner and the junior jumper.
    • When asked what features students would rather have in the park that are geared towards toddlers and young children, ideas included: seesaw; baby swing; spinners (group or seated); small slide; sand pit; a small themed play house/feature; and a dome/tunnel to climb through or over.

Splash pad:

  • The majority of students preferred the water jets to the water tunnel for the splash pad.
  • A few student suggested adding more features to the splash pad, with a bucket dump being the most popular suggestion.

Seating areas:

  • The majority of students liked the picnic seating area, however some were unsure. Suggestions for improving the picnic area include more shade (trees and umbrellas), tables with and without umbrellas (providing shade options), more and larger tables to fit multiple large families, rubber surfacing instead of grass, and more colourful picnic tables.
  • The majority of students liked the café table seating area.

The majority of students preferred aqua shades as the colours for the rubber surfacing.

Overall design:

  • The majority of students liked the overall design a lot. One student disliked the design.
  • A key suggestion included adding bike racks to the park design.

This phase of the community engagement process started in June 2023. In this phase, a final proposed design for the new park is being presented to the local community for a final round of feedback and revisions.