Caswell Park Playground Improvements

• Winter 2023/2024: Community engagement (online survey)
• Winter 2023/2024 to Spring 2024: Detailed design and hire a construction team
• Summer 2024: Construction starts
• Fall 2024: Construction complete, playground reopens

The timeline is subject to change.

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February 2024

Online Survey

From January 15 to February 23, 2024, 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 133 responses.

The design team will use this feedback to refine the final playground design. The final design will be available on this page in summer 2024.

Key Feedback Highlights

• When asked to rank their playground design preference, respondents ranked Playground Design A highest (49 per cent) followed by Playground Design B (39 per cent) and Playground Design C (12 per cent).
• Respondents shared that the three most important features to include in the new playground are:
  • Climbing structures
  • The combined junior/senior play structure for ages two to 12
  • Belt swings
• Respondents shared that the three least important features to include in the new playground are:
  • Stand-up spinner toys
  • Play panels
  • Stand-alone toys (e.g., seated spinner toys, teeter totters)
• If budget permits, the three features respondents would like more of in the improved playground are:
  • Climbing structures
  • The combined junior/senior play structure for ages two to 12
  • Curvy slide
• For seating around the playground:
  • 76 per cent of respondents like benches
  • 70 per cent of respondents like picnic tables
  • 38 per cent of respondents like armourstone seating
  • 35 per cent of respondents like Muskoka chairs
• The preferred colour scheme for the new playground was bright colours, like yellow, orange, and purple (59 per cent) over earthy colours like green, brown, and grey (23 per cent).
• The preferred ground cover for the playground is wood chips (53 per cent).

Playground Options

All three designs are Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) compliant, have the same amount of play features, and cost the same amount.

Playground Design A

Design A includes:

• A swing set with:
  • Two belt swings
  • Two toddler swings
  • One accessible swing
• One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
  • One large double slide
  • Nine climbing options
  • Two curvy climbing poles
  • Two sliding poles
  • One climbing bridge
  • One straight bridge
  • Steppers leading to separate structure
• One separate climbing structure for ages five to 12 with:
  • Rope climber
  • balancing stepping stones
  • Metal climber
• One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
  • One small slide
  • Three climbing options
  • One sliding pole
  • Monkey bars
  • Spinner
• Seated spinner

Playground Design B

Design B includes:

• A swing set with:
  • Three belt swings
  • One toddler swing
  • One accessible swing
• One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
  • One large slide
  • One small slide
  • Nine climbing options
  • One tunnel crawl tube
  • Monkey bars
  • Steppers leading to another structure
  • One wheel panel
  • One percussion panel
  • Balancing panels
  • One sliding pole
  • Climbing poles
• One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
  • One slide
  • Four climbing options
  • One wheel panel
• One large spinner
• One teeter-totter
• One percussion toy
• One windmill toy

Playground Design C

Design C includes:

• A swing set with:
  • Three belt swings
  • One toddler swing
  • One accessible swing
• One combined junior/senior play structure for ages two to 12 with:
  • One double slide
  • One large slide
  • One twirly slide
  • Seven climbing options
  • Two play panels
• One large net climber
• One percussion play panel
• One stand-up spinner toy

Playground Site Plan

1. Asphalt path
2. Playground
3. Fitness pod
4. Gathering space
5. Accessible benches
6. Muskoka chairs
7. Shade structure
8. Accessible picnic table (underneath shade structure)
9. Ping pong table
10. Armourstone seating
11. Tree and shrub planting

Caswell Park Playground is located at 18 Caswell Dr. at the northwest corner of the park.

The playground currently includes:

• One swing set with three swings for ages five and up
• A large spiral slide
• A junior climbing structure and small slide
• A senior climbing structure
• Sand under all play areas

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

• Playground equipment for ages two to 12
• Additional seating
• Engineered wood fibre playground surfacing
• Accessible play equipment and an accessible pathway connecting to the playground area. This means that people of all abilities will be able to play at this playground.

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