Dunlace Park Playground Improvements

The City is improving the playground in Dunlace Park. These improvements are part of an ongoing city-wide program to ensure playgrounds provide safe and accessible fun for many years to come.

  • Fall 2023: Community engagement (online survey)
  • October 2023 to April 2024: Detailed design and hire a construction team
  • June 2025: Construction starts, playground closes
  • October 2025: Construction complete, playground reopens

The timeline is subject to change.

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June 2025

Construction Update

All pathways within Dunlace Park will be repaved during construction for the new playground. This work will be completed in phases to maintain access to the tennis courts.

Pathway closures will occur at all entrances, including Dunlace Drive, Davean Drive, Shouldice Court and the entrance from Dunlace Public School. Anticipated closure dates will be shared on this page by mid-June.

February 2024

Final Playground Design

The final plan for the new Dunlace Park playground, with features listed below. The playground remains in the same location, with an added walkway to the north east corner of the play area to connect the new concrete ramp and main path for accessibility. The playground will have one bench to the north along the new walkway connection, and one bench to the south.

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

  1. Accessible playground with engineered wood fibre safety surfacing and concrete curb
  2. Asphalt walkway
  3. Accessible concrete ramp into play space
  4. Relocated benches on concrete pad
  5. Perennial planting (species to be determined)
  6. Existing stone wall to remain

The final design for the new Dunlace Park playground, which has been refined based on community feedback. It will be bright colours, including blue, light yellow and green, and include the play features listed below.

The final playground design and layout were determined using feedback from the community. The new playground will be AODA compliant and will include the following features:

  • A swing set with one group disc swing
  • One combined junior and senior play structure for ages two to 12 with:
    • one large curved slide
    • three medium wavy slides
    • five climbing options
    • one rope bridge
    • one hammock
    • five play panel
  • One sitting group spinner
  • One teeter totter
  • One small vertical climber
  • One large rope climber

December 2023

Online Survey

From November 13 to December 10, 2023, 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 167 responses.

The design team will use this feedback to refine a final design. The final design will be available on this page in spring 2024.

Key Feedback Highlights
  • When asked to rank their playground design preference, respondents ranked Playground Design B highest (46 per cent) followed by Playground Design A (35 per cent) and Playground Design C (20 per cent).
  • Respondents shared that the three most important features to include in the new playground are:
    • senior play structure for ages five to 12
    • climbing structures
    • belt swings
  • Respondents shared that the three least important features to include in the new playground are:
    • play panels
    • motion toys (e.g. standing or sitting spinners, spring toys, teeter totters, etc.)
    • stand-alone toys (e.g. balance beams, tunnels, sensory sculptures, etc.)
  • 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.)
  • For seating around the playground:
    • 55 per cent of respondents like seatwalls
    • 60 per cent of respondents like picnic tables
    • 90 per cent of respondents like benches
  • The preferred colour scheme for the new playground was bright colours, like yellow, orange and purple (44 per cent) over earthy colours like green, brown and grey (26 per cent) and neutral colours with one accent colour, like grey, white, black and bright blue (17 per cent).
Playground Options

All three designs are accessible, have the same amount of play features and cost the same amount.

Playground Design A

A rendering of playground Design A for the Dunlace Park Playground improvements, looking to the north-east from the south-west. From the upper-left to the lower-right, it includes a chime musical instrument, a spring toy, a combined junior and senior play structure, a play panel, a swing set with an accessible seat, tot seat, and two belt seat, and a spinner toy.

Design A includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • two belt swings
    • one toddler swing
    • one accessible swing
  • One combined junior and senior play structure for ages two to 12 with:
    • one large straight slide
    • two large curved slides
    • one double small slide
    • five climbing options
    • one talk tube pair
    • two play panels
  • One standing spinner
  • One play panel
  • One musical instrument
  • One spring toy
Playground Design B

A rendering of playground Design B for the Dunlace Park Playground improvements, looking to the west from the east. From the left to the right, it includes a teeter totter, a combined junior and senior play structure, a large rope climbing structure, a group spinner, a small vertical climber, and a group disc swing.

Design B includes:

  • A swing set with one group disc swing
  • One combined junior and senior play structure for ages two to 12 with:
    • one large curved slide
    • three medium wavy slides
    • five climbing options
    • one rope bridge
    • one hammock
    • five play panel
  • One sitting group spinner
  • One teeter totter
  • One small vertical climber
  • One large rope climber
Playground Design C

A rendering of playground Design C for the Dunlace Park Playground improvements, looking to the north from the south. From the lower-left to the upper-right, it includes a standing rocking toy, a sitting spinner, a combined junior and senior play structure, a swing set with two belt seats, an accessible seat and a tot seat, a group spring toy, and a standing spinner.

Design C includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • two belt swings
    • one toddler swing
    • one accessible swing
  • One combined junior and senior play structure for ages two to 12 with:
    • one large curved slide
    • one medium straight slide
    • four climbing options
    • one chin-up bar
    • one hammock
  • One group spring toy
  • One standing spinner
  • One sitting spinner
  • One group standing rocking toy

Dunlace Park is located near the intersection of Davean Drive and Dunlace Drive. The playground is located near the southwest entrance of Dunlace Park.

The playground currently includes:

  • Two swing sets with:
    • two swings for ages two to five
    • two swings for ages five and up
  • A junior play structure with climbing options, a shelter and a small double slide
  • 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
  • Upgraded seating
  • Engineered wood fibre playground surfacing
  • Accessible play equipment and an accessible ramp into 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.