Clarinda Park Playground Improvements & New Adult Fitness Area

From the week of June 15 to September 30, 2026, the playground and a section of the walkway will be closed for construction. Visit the Project Updates section for more information.

The City is improving the playground and adding a new fitness area in Clarinda Park. The new fitness area will include outdoor fitness equipment, such as pull-up bars and step benches, with instruction panels at each station to accommodate adults with different fitness levels. The playground improvements are part of an ongoing program to enhance playgrounds and play spaces across the city.

While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no text alternative available for some of the content on this site. If you require alternate formats or need assistance understanding our maps, drawings, or any other content, please contact Max Grandmaison at 416-338-2359.

  • October 2024: Community engagement (online survey)
  • November 2024 to June 2025: Detailed design
  • July to September 2025: Hire a construction team
  • June 2026: Construction starts
  • September 2026: Construction complete, playground reopens

The timeline is subject to change.

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June 2026

Construction Update

Construction for the new playground starts and is anticipated to continue until September 2026.

A section of the main pathway will be closed from June 15 to September 30, 2026 to allow vehicular circulation to distribute materials and is best for pedestrian safety. The stairway to the East Don River Trail will remain open, however park visitors can access it by walking across the park lawn.

The nearest paved access to the East Don River Trail is from the East Don Parkland located at 1240 Sheppard Avenue East (intersection of Sheppard Avenue East & Leslie Street).

The nearest playgrounds are located at Ethennonnhawahstihnen Park and Maureen Parkette.

October 2025

Final Playground and Fitness Area Design Update

Due to Toronto and Region Conservation Authority boundary limits, the final design has been updated to relocate the adult fitness area to the west of the main park walkway.
Illustrated plan of the new playground and adult fitness areas. The playground and adjacent seating area are connected by a new walkway that links to the main park walkway. The fitness area is located on the other side of the main park walkway. Additional features are listed below.

The following features will be included in the playground and surrounding area:

  1. Accessible concrete walkway
  2. Armourstone seat wall
  3. Accessible playground with engineered wood fiber safety surfacing, concrete ramp into play area, online survey selected play equipment and concrete curb
  4. Benches on concrete surfacing
  5. Picnic table on concrete surfacing
  6. Adult fitness area with engineered wood fiber safety surfacing, concrete ramp into fitness area, fitness equipment and concrete curb
  7. Relocated waste receptacles on concrete surfacing

February 2025

Final Playground and Fitness Area Design

Illustrated plan of new playground and adult fitness areas. Both new facilities are connected by a new walkway that links to the main park walkway and a new seating area is located between the two programs. Additional features listed below.

The following features will be included in the playground and surrounding area:

  1. Accessible concrete walkway
  2. Armourstone seat wall
  3. Accessible playground with engineered wood fiber safety surfacing, concrete ramp into play area, online survey selected play equipment and concrete curb
  4. Benches on concrete surfacing
  5. Picnic tables on concrete surfacing
  6. Adult fitness area with engineered wood fiber safety surfacing, concrete ramp into fitness area, fitness equipment and concrete curb
  7. Relocated waste receptacles on concrete surfacing
The final design for the new Clarinda Park playground, which has been refined based on community feedback. It will be purple, yellow, orange and green, and include the play features listed below.
Playground design.

The final playground design and layout were determined using feedback from the community. The new playground will be Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) compliant and will include the following features:

  • A swing set with:
    • Two belt swings
    • Two toddler swings
    • One accessible swing
  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • One wavy slide
    • Three climbing options
    • One play panel
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • One wavy slide
    • One curved slide
    • Four climbing options
    • Two overhead climbing options
    • One large rope climber
    • One quiet seat
    • Three step pods
    • One play panel
  • One teeter totter
  • One group spring toy
  • One stand-up spinner toy
  • Two play panels
The final design for the new Clarinda Park fitness area, pieces have been selected to achieve a full body workout. It will include the fitness features listed below.
Fitness area.
  • Pull-up bars
  • Monkey bars
  • Push-up bars
  • Long bench
  • Cargo net
  • Dip station
  • Information panels

November 2024

Online Survey

From October 21 to November 3, 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 this web page. The survey received a total of 136 responses.

The design team will use this feedback to refine the final playground design. The final design will be available on this page in the winter of 2025.

Key Feedback Highlights
  • When asked to rank their playground design preference, respondents ranked Playground Design A highest (37 per cent) followed by Playground Design B (32 per cent) and Playground Design C (31 per cent).
  • Respondents shared that the three most important features to include in the new playground are:
    • Climbing structures
    • Senior play structure for ages five to 12
    • 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-alone toys (e.g. imaginative play vehicle, play house, sensory sculptures, etc.)
    • Double slide
  • If budget permits, the three features respondents would like more of in the improved playground are:
    • Climbing structures
    • Senior play structure for ages five to 12
    • Motion toys (e.g. standing or sitting spinners, spring toys, teeter totters, etc.)
  • The preferred colour scheme for the new playground was bright colours, like yellow, orange, and purple (46 per cent) over earthy colours like green, brown, and grey (29 per cent), over neutral colours with one accent colour, like white, black, and turquoise (16 per cent) and no preference (nine per cent).
Playground 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 looking south west. From left to right: swings, senior play structure, play panels, two teeter totters, spinner, spring toy, junior structure and more play panels. Play features are further described below.

Design A includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • Two belt swings
    • Two toddler swings
    • One accessible swing
  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • One wavy slide
    • Three climbing options
    • One play panel
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • One wavy slide
    • One curved slide
    • Four climbing options
    • Two overhead climbing options
    • One quiet seat
    • One step pod
    • One play panel
  • One teeter totter
  • One standing spring teeter-totter
  • One group spring toy
  • One stand-up spinner toy
  • Five play panels
Playground Design B

Playground design B looking south east. From left to right: junior play structure, group spring toy, two individual spring toys, swings, dome climber, standing spinner, and senior structure. Play features are further described below.

Design B includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • One belt swing
    • One toddler swing
    • One accessible swing
  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • One curved slide
    • Three climbing options
    • Two overhead climbing options
    • One bridge
    • One quiet seat
    • Two play panels
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • One wavy slide
    • One straight slide
    • Four climbing options
    • Two overhead climbing options
    • One bridge
    • Seven step pods
    • One quiet seat
    • Two play panels
  • One dome climber
  • Two spring toys
  • One group spring toy
  • One stand-up spinner toy
  • One play panel
Playground Design C

Playground design C looking north east. From left to right: swings, senior play structure, spring toy, standing spinner, and junior play structure. Play features are further described below.

Design C includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • Two belt swings
    • One toddler swing
    • One accessible swing
  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • One double slide
    • One curved slide
    • Two climbing options
    • One overhead climbing option
    • three play panels
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • One curved slide
    • One wavy double slide
    • Five climbing options
    • One bridge
    • One overhead climbing option
    • One hammock swing
    • Five play panels
  • One spring toy
  • One stand-up spinner toy

The playground and fitness area will be designed using community feedback.

Playground

The playground is located at the centre of the park, near the entrance at Clarinda Drive.

The playground currently includes:

  • two swing sets with:
    • two swings for ages two to five
    • two swings for ages five and up
  • a medium-sized spiral slide
  • a combined junior and senior climbing structure with:
    • one small sized slide
    • one medium-sized covered slide
    • two overhead climbing options
    • one tunnel
    • one bridge
    • six climbing options
    • two play panels
  • 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
  • improved seating
  • engineered wood fibre surfacing

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.

Fitness Area

The Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan helps guide future investments in outdoor fitness areas across the city.

The location of the fitness area in Clarinda Park is to be determined.
Date modified: June 18, 2026