Review feedback from the online survey in the Project Updates section.

The City is improving the outdoor playground at Armour Heights Community Centre as part of an ongoing program to enhance playgrounds and play spaces across the city so that everyone can experience the joys and benefits of play for years to come.

  • Fall 2024: Community engagement (online survey)
  • Winter/Spring 2025: Detailed design and hire a construction team
  • Summer/Fall 2025: Construction starts
  • Late Fall 2025: Construction complete, playground re-opens

The timeline is subject to change.

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December 2024

Online Survey

From November 19 to December 6, feedback on multiple playground design options was collected in an online survey. The survey was promoted through paid social media ads, the local Councillor’s office, on-site signage, and on this page. The survey received a total of 114 responses.

The design team will use this feedback to refine the final playground design. The final design will be available on this page in Winter/Spring 2025.

Feedback Summary
  • When asked to rank their playground design preference, respondents ranked Playground Design B highest (53 per cent) followed by Playground Design C (26 per cent) and Playground Design A (22 per cent).
  • Respondents shared that the three most important features to include in the new playground are:
    • A senior play structure for ages five to 12
    • The junior play structure for ages two to five
    • Big climbing structures
  • Respondents shared that the three least important features to include in the new playground are:
    • Stand-up spinner toys
    • Play panels
    • Stand-alone play storefronts, playhouses, or children’s seating areas
  • If budget permits, the three features respondents would like more of in the improved playground are:
    • Big climbing structures
    • Belt swings
    • A senior play structure for ages five to 12
  • For seating around the playground:
    • 72 per cent of respondents like benches
    • 52 per cent of respondents like Armourstone seatwalls
  • The preferred colour scheme for the new playground was bright colours, like yellow, orange, and purple (52 per cent) over earthy colours like green, brown, and grey (17 per cent) or neutral colours with one accent colour, like white, black, and turquoise (18 per cent)
Playground Options

All three designs are AODA compliant, have the same amount of play features, and cost the same amount.

Playground Design A
A ground-level view of playground proposal A, showing from left to right, a 3-panel play panel, a play structure with slides and a swing, and new benches.

Playground Design A includes:

  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • One wavy slide: A wavy slide attached to the play structure
    • One straight slide: A straight slide attached to the play structure
    • One curved slide: A curved slide attached to the play structure
    • Climbing tower: A climbing tower enclosed with railings with exterior climbing features, including steps, a shade roof, a play storefront, a climbing wall, and a play panel with moving parts that encourages tactile, auditory and visual sensory engagement.
    • A belt swing: integrated into the climbing tower structure
  • One spinner: A spinner with handles that rotates around a fixed barrel, which can be used by individual young children either sitting or lying facedown.
  • One standalone play panel: A panel with moving parts and openings that encourages tactile, auditory and visual sensory engagement.
  • One standalone springer: seats two children, and provides bouncing movement and encourages sensory play in younger children.
Playground Design B

An aerial view of playground proposal B, showing from left to right, a junior play structure, a senior play structure, and two seated spinners.

Playground Design B includes:

  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • Double straight slide: Two straight slides, side by side, attached to the play structure.
    • Climbing tower: A climbing tower enclosed with railings with exterior climbing features, including steps, a shade roof, and steppers leading up to the tower platform.
  • One senior play structure for ages 5 to 12 with:
    • Single spiral slide: A taller spiral slide attached to the play structure.
    • Single straight slide: A shorter straight slide attached to the play structure.
    • Climbing tower: A climbing tower enclosed with railings with both interior and exterior climbing features, including bar climbers, steps, poles, shade roof, steering wheel sensory play panel, and a plastic sensory tunnel
  • Two standalone spinners: Two bucket seat spinners that rotate around a fixed barrel, that can be used sitting down
  • One standalone play panel: A panel with moving parts, openings, and a play storefront that encourages tactile, auditory and visual sensory engagement.
Playground Design C
An aerial view of playground proposal C, showing from left to right, a play structure with slides, climbers, and stairs, a seated spinner, a spring seesaw, and a junior sitting area.

Playground Design C includes:

  • One play structure for ages two to 12 with:
    • Single curved slide for younger children: A shorter curved slide attached to the play structure.
    • Single curved slide for older children: A taller curved slide attached to the play structure.
    • Climbing tower: A climbing tower enclosed with railings with exterior climbing features, including steps, a bridge, two shade roofs, stepper climbers, and a sensory play panel with moving parts that encourages tactile, auditory and visual sensory engagement.
  • One standalone spinner: a wide, sloping seat that spins around a fixed barrel, with handles, to be used either seated or lying down
  • One standalone spring seesaw: Bounces back and forth to provide fun motion for up to four children at a time
  • One standalone play panel: A panel with moving parts and openings that encourages tactile, auditory and visual sensory engagement.
  • One talk tube: Allows children of all ages to communicate with each other across the playground through underground tubes, fostering social interaction, cooperation, and experimentation with sound.
  • One standalone seating area with an integrated play panel: Promotes imaginative play
Playground Layout

The new playground will remain in the same location. Below is an image of the proposed layout of the playground and surrounding area.

The proposed footprint and layout for the new playground will included rubberized tile safety surfacing arranged in a pattern. The colours shown in the rubberized safety surfacing are for reference only. The footprint will have three trees and new benches.

The following features will be included in the playground and surrounding area:

  1. Colourful rubberized safety surfacing
  2. Armourstone seatwall
  3. Shrub planting
  4. Accessible bench
  5. Existing chain link fence

The colours shown in the rubberized safety surfacing are for reference only.

Armour Heights Community Centre Playground is located outside the community centre along Avenue Road, southwest of Wilson Avenue.

The playground currently includes:

  • a junior climbing structure with a small slide
  • two sand tables
  • two spring riders
  • a swing
  • a sensory panel
  • sand under all play areas
  • four benches

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

  • playground equipment for ages two to 12
  • upgraded seating
  • engineered wood fibre surfacing
  • an accessible pathway to the playground area

The play equipment and pathway connecting to the playground area will comply with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). Learn more about how playgrounds are made accessible.

Improvements will only be made in the general playground area and will not include any new water or lighting features or improvements to other areas of the park.