Erwin Krickhahn Park Playground Improvements

• Summer/Fall 2024: Community engagement (online survey)
• Winter/Spring 2025: Detailed design and community engagement
• Spring 2025: Hire a construction team
• Summer/Fall 2025: Construction starts, playground closes
• Fall/Winter 2025: Construction complete, playground reopens

The timeline is subject to change.

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November 2024

Community Pop-up Event

On November 5, the project team collected feedback on the design and equipment for the improved playground at a community pop-up event in Erwin Krickhahn Park.

Approximately 35 community members participated in the event. Participants were asked to share their preferences through a voting activity and provide additional feedback using sticky notes. Two members of the project team were present to answer questions and gather feedback. The Councillor and two staff members were also in attendance.

Feedback Summary

• 13 participants preferred a playground type with one main structure with many play features attached and three preferred many separate features without a main structure
• Participants shared that the most important features to include in the new playground are:
  • Rope climber
  • Monkey bars
  • Climbing structure
• For seating around the playground:
  • Nine participants like Muskoka chairs seatwalls
  • Eight participants like games (e.g. chess, checkers) tables
  • Seven participants like benches
  • Six participants like picnic tables
  • Six participants like armour stones
• For amenities around the playground:
  • seven participants like more seating types and options
  • five participants like more garbage and recycling bins
  • five participants like bike parking
  • three participants like stroller parking

Online Survey

From October 28 to November 11, 2024, feedback on the design and equipment for the improved playground 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 198 responses.

The design team will use this feedback to develop playground design options. These designs will be presented to the community in a second online survey.

Feedback Summary

• 56 per cent of participants preferred a playground type with one main structure with many play features attached and 31 per cent preferred many separate features without a main structure
• Participants shared that the most important features to include in the new playground are:
  • Climbing structure
  • Belt swings
  • Spiral slide
• Participants shared that the least important features to include in the new playground are:
  • Play panels
  • Stand-up spinner toys
  • Climbable step platforms
• Participants ranked the seating options in the following order:
  1. Benches
  2. Picnic tables
  3. Muskoka chairs
  4. Armourstone seating walls
  5. Game tables (e.g. chess, checkers)
• For amenities around the playground:
  • 78 percent of participants like more seating types and options
  • 52 per cent of participants like stroller parking
  • 50 per cent of participants like bike parking
  • 43 per cent of participants like more garbage and recycling bins
• Several participants suggested including play features for children under five, removing the sand play surface and adding a sandbox
• Some participants suggested including belt swings for adults, adding a rubber play surface and adding fencing around the playground
• Suggestions that are beyond the scope of this project included calls for an off-leash dog area, a basketball court, a washroom and a splash pad

Erwin Krickhahn Park Playground is located at the south side of the park.

The playground currently includes:

• eight swings
• two slides and one spiral slide
• a play structure with climbing options
• 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.