Checkendon Park Playground Improvements

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

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.

  • December 2024 to January 2025: Community engagement (online survey)
  • Winter 2025: Detailed design
  • Summer 2025: Construction starts, playground closes
    Fall 2025: Construction complete, playground reopens

The timeline is subject to change.

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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

Rendering of playground Option A showing from left to right: the senior play structure, a junior structure, play panels in the background, and a swingset.

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

Rendering of playground Option B showing from left to right: a swingset, talk tube, 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

Rendering of playground Option C showing from left to right: a swingset, a small junior play structure, 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

Rendering of Playground Option D showing from left to right: swingset, large senior play structure, and 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

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.