December 2024
Online Survey
From November 19 to December 6, 2024, 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 450 responses.
The design team will use the feedback from the online survey to refine the final playground design. The final design will be available on this page in Winter/Spring
Feedback Summary
- When asked to rank their playground design preference, respondents ranked Playground Design B highest (41 per cent) followed by Playground Design C (30 per cent) and Playground Design A (29 per cent).
- Respondents shared that the three most important features to include in the new playground are:
- The senior play structure for ages five to 12
- Big rope or bar climbing structures
- The junior play structure for ages two to five
- Respondents shared that the three least important features to include in the new playground are:
- Play panels
- Stand-up spinner toys
- Stand-alone toys (such as springers, riders, and play panels)
- If budget permits, the three features respondents would like more of in the improved playground are:
- Big rope or bar climbing structures
- Senior play structure for ages five to 12
- Spiral slide
- For seating around the playground:
- 81 per cent of respondents like umbrella tables
- 67 per cent of respondents like benches
- 46 per cent of respondents like Armourstone seatwalls
- The preferred colour scheme for the new playground was bright colours, like yellow, orange, and purple (49 per cent) over earthy colours like green, brown, and grey (28 per cent) or neutral colours with one accent colour, like white, black, and turquoise (12 per cent)
In-person classroom engagement sessions
On November 29, a series of in-person classroom engagement sessions were held at Bridlewood Public School at 60 Bridlewood Blvd, Scarborough, ON. The purpose of the classroom engagement session was to collect students’ feedback on Bridlewood Park playground improvements. The design team will use the feedback from the engagement sessions to refine the final playground design. The final design will be available on this page in Winter/Spring 2025.
In total, 181 students from grade one to grade six participated in the engagement in four different classroom groups, with around 40 to 50 students per session. Students shared their preferences for playground design options and play features through hands-on activities such as building with found objects, classroom voting, group sharing and using paper to write additional thoughts and comments.
In-person classroom engagement sessions: Key Feedback Highlights
Hands-on building activity
Students were asked to build and showcase one of their favourite memories of playing at playground using random found objects provided to them. After this activity, students were asked to write a few sentences on paper about their favourite memory.
The most common themes among all the favourite memories were:
- Playing with a certain play feature at the playground (68 per cent)
- Meeting up with friends and playing together (21 per cent)
- Spending time with family members (seven per cent)
The top play features mentioned in the favourite memories at a playground were:
- slides (37 per cent)
- swings (22 per cent)
- climbing structure (19 per cent)
- monkey bars (13 per cent)
- spinning toy (10 per cent)
Group voting – favourite existing playground features
Students were asked to raise their hands and share their favourite play feature at the current Bridlewood Park playground. The most common answers from students who shared were the swings, monkey bars, slides, and pole.
When asked what is the best thing they have ever seen at another park, some common play features among students who answered were a Merry-go-round, trampoline, different kinds of slides, unique climbing structures and ziplines.
Group voting – favourite proposed playground features and design options
Students in each classroom engagement session were asked to raise their hands and vote for their preferred playground design option and play features.
The top preferred play features were:
- spiral slide (61 per cent)
- swings (56 per cent)
- spinning toy (48 per cent)
- net climber (33 per cent)
- climbing structure (20 per cent)
The most to least preferred playground design options were:
- playground option B (46 per cent)
- playground option C (18 per cent)
- playground option A (eight per cent)
Playground Design Options
All three designs are AODA compliant, have the same amount of play features, and cost the same amount.
Playground Design A
Playground Design A includes:
- A junior play structure for ages two to five with:
- Two curved slides: Two curved slides attached to the play structure.
- One climbing structure: A climbing tower enclosed with railings with exterior climbing features, including steps, a shade roof, and a play panel with moving parts that encourages tactile, auditory and visual sensory engagement.
- One belt swing: Attached to the climbing tower structure.
- A senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
- Four curved slides: Four curved slides attached to the play structure.
- One straight slide: A shorter straight slide attached to the play structure.
- One climbing structure: A climbing tower enclosed with railings with both interior and exterior climbing features, including bar climbers, steps, poles, climbing wall, shade roof, hanging bars, bridges, and platforms.
- A swing set with:
- Two belt swings
- One bucket swing: Two high back bucket swings for toddlers.
- One inclusive swing: One AODA accessible swing intended for individuals who do not use the standard belt swings or bucket swings. Inclusive seats are meant to accommodate children of all shapes, sizes and abilities.
- One seesaw for both senior and junior children
- One spinner: A platform with handles that rotates around a barrel, to be used either standing or sitting down.
- One springer: provides bouncing movement and encourages sensory play in younger children.
Playground Design B
Playground Design B includes:
- A junior play structure for ages two to five with:
- One double straight slide: Two straight slides, side by side, attached to the play structure.
- One climbing structure: A climbing tower enclosed with railings with exterior climbing features, including steps, a shade roof, and a steering wheel panel with moving parts that encourages tactile, auditory and visual sensory engagement.
- A senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
- One wavy slide: A wavy slide attached to the play structure.
- Two curved slides: Two curved slides attached to the play structure.
- One climbing tower: A climbing tower enclosed with railings with both interior and exterior climbing features, including bars, steps, poles, shade roof, hanging bars, rope climbers, a bridge, ladders, and interactive play panels.
- One ropes course: A large climbing structure made of ropes, chains, bars, and step platforms.
- A swing set with:
- Two belt swings
- One bucket swing: One high back bucket swings for toddlers.
- One inclusive swing: An inclusive seat that accommodates children of all shapes, sizes and abilities.
- One merry-go-round: For multiple children to stand, sit, or crouch in while rotating on a barrel.
- Two spring rockers: To sit in and rock back and forth.
- One play panel: A panel with moving parts and openings that encourages tactile, auditory and visual sensory engagement.
- One talk tube: Allows kids of all ages to communicate through an underground tube, encouraging social interaction and experimentation with sound.
Playground Design C
Playground Design C includes:
- A junior play structure for ages two to five with:
- One double straight slide: Two straight slides, side by side, attached to the play structure.
- One double curved slide: Two curved slides, side by side, attached to the play structure.
- One straight slide: A single straight slide attached to the play structure.
- One climbing tower: A climbing tower enclosed with railings with exterior climbing features, including steps, a shade roof, and a sensory play panel with moving parts that encourages tactile, auditory and visual sensory engagement.
- A senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
- One double straight slide: Two taller straight slides, side by side, attached to the play structure.
- One curved slide: One curved slide attached to the larger climbing structure.
- One climbing tower: A climbing tower enclosed with railings with both interior and exterior climbing features, including monkey bars, steps, poles, shade roof, sensory play panel, hanging bars, and a rope climber bridge.
- A swing set with:
- Two belt swings
- One bucket swing: One high back bucket swings for toddlers.
- One inclusive swing: An inclusive seat that accommodates children of all shapes, sizes and abilities.
- One seated spinner: A saddle seat that rotates on a fixed barrel.
- One merry-go-round: For multiple children to stand, sit, or crouch in while rotating on a barrel.
- One play panel: A panel with moving parts and openings that encourages tactile, auditory and visual sensory engagement.
The new playground will remain in the same location. Below is an image of the proposed layout of the playground and surrounding area.
The following features will be included in the playground and surrounding area:
- Engineered wood fiber safety surfacing
- Paved surface with three benches and three tables
- Accessibility ramp
- Existing commemorative tree and bench (unmoved)
