The City is improving the playground in Checkendon Park 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.
Project Timeline
December 2024 to January 2025: Community engagement (online survey)
Winter 2025: Detailed design
Summer 2025: Hire a construction team
Fall 2025: Construction starts, playground closes
Late Fall 2025/Winter 2026: Construction complete, playground reopens
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Level of Engagement
This project has been classified as a Consult project based on the International Association for Public Participation Spectrum. This means we collect and consider public feedback on proposed design options to inform the development of a final playground design.
Project Updates
February 2025
Online Survey
From December 19, 2024, to January 19, 2025, 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 201 responses.
The design team will use this feedback to refine the final playground design. The final design will be available on this page in Spring 2025.
Key Feedback Highlights
When asked to rank their playground design preference, respondents ranked Playground Design C highest (36 per cent) followed by Playground Design A (32 per cent), Playground Design D (26 per cent) and Playground Design B (six per cent).
Respondents shared that the three most important features to include in the new playground are:
Senior play structure
Climbing structures
Tall slides
Respondents shared that the three least important features to include in the new playground are:
Stand-alone motion toys
Play panels
Play counters and play seating
If budget permits, the three features respondents would like more of in the improved playground are:
Climbing structures
Tall slides
Senior play structure
For seating around the playground:
36 per cent of respondents like seatwalls
74 per cent of respondents like picnic tables
84 per cent of respondents like picnic tables
The preferred colour scheme for the new playground was a mix of both earthy and bright colours (52 per cent) over bright colours, like yellow, orange and purple (17 per cent) and earthy colours like green, brown and grey (19 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
From left to right: the senior play structure, a junior structure, play panels in the background and a swing set.
Design A includes:
A swing set with:
Two belt swings
One toddler swings
One accessible swing
A junior play structure for ages two to five with:
One double slide
Three climbing options
One climbing pole
Two play panels
A senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
One curved slide
One spiral slide
Five climbing options including a crawl tube, overhand rings and stepping stones
One telescope panel
Multiple stand-alone play panels
One spinning wheel toy
Playground Design B
From left to right: a swing set, a talk tube, a spring toy, a medium all-ages play structure which includes two platform structures, a tree-themed climber and two slides.
Design B includes:
A swing set with:
Two belt swings
One toddler swings
One accessible swing
A play structure for ages two to 12 with:
Four climbing options
One curvy slide
One straight slide
One play panel
One tree-themed climbing course
One set of talk tubes
One spring toy
Playground Design C
From left to right: a swing set, a small junior play structure and a large all-ages play structure with two slides.
Design C includes:
A swing set with:
Two belt swings
One toddler swings
One accessible swing
A junior play structure for ages two to five with:
One double slide
Three climbing options
One climbing pole
Multiple play panels
A play structure for ages five to 12 with:
One curved slide
One spiral slide
Five climbing options
Sitting pods, play entrance, and play counter underneath for ages two to 12
Multiple play panels
One sit-down spinner toy
Playground Design D
From left to right: a swing set, a large senior play structure and a medium junior play structure.
Design D includes:
A swing set with:
Two belt swings
One toddler swings
One accessible swing
A junior play structure for ages two to five with:
One curved slide
One straight slide
Three climbing options
A play structure for ages five to 12 with:
One large wavy slide
Four climbing options
One linked climbing structure including overhead rings
One lean-out area
Multiple play panels
About the Project
Checkendon Park Playground is located near the West Humber Trail, east of Checkendon Drive and Riverhead Drive.
The playground currently includes:
two swing sets with:
two swings for ages two to five
two swings for ages five to 12
a medium-sized play structure with slide
sand under all play areas
The playground will be redesigned using community feedback and is proposed to include:
playground equipment for ages five to 12
additional 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.
