Bishop Park Improvements & Expansion

The City is improving the playground and surrounding area in Bishop Park as part of an ongoing program to enhance playgrounds and play spaces across the city. In addition, the park will be expanded by 626 m2 (slightly larger than an NBA basketball court) to the south, following the acquisition of land at 49 Pemberton Ave. The vision for the future expanded park area will be shaped through community engagement.

  • Fall 2024: Community engagement Phase 1
  • Winter 2025: Design development
  • Spring 2025: Community engagement Phase 2
  • Fall 2025: Detailed design
  • Winter 2026: Hire a construction team
  • Spring 2026: Construction starts, playground closes
  • Summer 2026: Construction complete, playground reopens

The timeline is subject to change. More community engagement may be needed for the future expanded park area, which could extend the project timeline.

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Level of Engagement

This project has been classified as a Consult project based on the International Association of Public Participation Spectrum. This means we obtain public feedback on existing analysis, alternatives, and/or proposals.

In this phase, the project team collected feedback on preferences for play features and input to help create a draft vision statement for the future expanded park area.

The anticipated outcome of this phase is feedback to help inform the development of playground design options and a draft vision statement for the expanded park area.

December 2024

Online Survey

From November 18 to December 9, an online survey received 192 submissions collecting feedback on preferences for park improvements and the future expanded park area. The survey was available in English, Korean, Farsi, simplified and traditional Chinese.

Feedback Summary

The most popular activities participants would like to do in the improved and expanded park were:

  • sit and relax (65 per cent)
  • use the playground and spend time with kids (56 per cent)
  • enjoy nature (53 per cent)
  • spend time with family or friends (42 per cent)
  • walk or jog through the park (38 per cent)
  • exercise or use fitness amenities (37 per cent)

Participants completed the sentence, “After the existing park is expanded, Bishop Park will be a place to/that…” The most common themes were:

  • a place for kids to have good experiences (26 per cent)
  • a place to spend time with family and friends (25 per cent)
  • a place to relax and recharge (19 per cent)
  • a place to enjoy nature (16 per cent)

The most-used features and amenities in the park were:

  • the benches (63 per cent)
  • the playground (59 per cent)
  • the lawn/garden spaces (37 per cent)
  • the pergola (30 per cent)
  • the picnic tables (24 per cent)

Other amenity feedback:

  • 49 per cent agreed there are enough garbage bins.
  • 45 per cent agreed there is enough open lawn space.
  • 42 per cent disagreed that there is enough seating.
  • 56 per cent disagreed there are enough amenities.

The most important play features were:

  • climbing structure (74 per cent)
  • belt swings (59 per cent)
  • rope climber (56 per cent)
  • spiral slide (55 per cent)
  • monkey bars (47 per cent)

If budget permits, the most popular fitness features were:

  • balance beam (47 per cent)
  • calisthenic rack (47 per cent)
  • pull-up bars (45 per cent)
  • monkey bars (43 per cent)
  • push-up bars (34 per cent)
  • step benches (34 per cent)

Participants were asked whether to update the current playground structure or add new recreational amenities to the improved Bishop Park. Responses were nearly split:

  • 51 per cent preferred adding new amenities while maintaining the current playground.
  • 49 per cent preferred updating the playground without adding new amenities.

The most popular seating was:

  • benches (36 per cent)
  • picnic tables (27 per cent)
  • Muskoka chairs (20 per cent)
  • amour stone seating (17 per cent)

The preferred new landscaping and amenities for the expanded park area were:

  • shade structure (23 per cent)
  • gardens (21 per cent)
  • additional seating (17 per cent)
  • outdoor fitness equipment (17 per cent)

The preferred garden type for the expanded park area was:

  • pollinator garden (29 per cent)
  • healing garden (27 per cent)
  • urban garden (23 per cent)
  • rain garden (19 per cent)

Participants provided additional comments, including:

  • adding more trees to create shade (11 per cent)
  • installing a new water fountain/water bottle filling station (11 per cent)
  • improving the lighting for better safety at night (nine per cent)
  • more areas with grass (nine per cent)
  • more recreational amenities for all ages
  • adding bicycle parking

In this phase, the project team will present playground design options and the draft vision statement for the future expanded park area. There will be an online survey and an in-person pop-up event for community members to share their thoughts and preferences on the playground design options.

The anticipated outcome of this phase is a preferred playground design and a confirmed vision statement for the expanded park area.

Bishop Park Playground is located on the south side of the park entrance, near the pergola.

The playground currently includes:

  • two slides
  • a junior play structure with a vertical climbing net and a bridge
  • a see-saw rider
  • rubber surfacing under all play areas
  • an accessible pathway

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

  • playground equipment for ages five to 12
  • new rubber surfacing
  • additional seating
  • an accessible pathway to the playground area
  • water bottle filling station

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.