Goldhawk Park South Playground Improvements

The new Goldhawk Park south playground is open! Swings will be installed in early 2025. Thank you to all the community members who provided their feedback throughout the playground improvement process.

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

  • June 2023: Community engagement (online survey)
  • July 2023 to March 2024: Detailed design and hire a construction team
  • Late Summer 2024: Construction starts
  • Late Fall 2024: Construction complete, playground reopens

The timeline is subject to change.

November 2024

Project Complete

Construction is complete and the improved playground opens to the public.

Construction Update

The playground will reopen in late fall 2024 without swings due to a manufacturing delay. The swings are expected to be installed in early 2025.

January 2024

Final Playground Design

The final plan of the proposed layout for the Goldhawk Park south playground improvements, with features as described below. The layout includes a large triangular play area with cedar weave safety surfacing to the north and a seating area to the south with two benches, one picnic table and a central walkway connecting to existing pathways.

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

  1. Benches on concrete pad
  2. Accessible playground with cedar weave wood fibre safety surfacing and concrete curb
  3. Accessible concrete ramp into play space
  4. Accessible picnic table on concrete pad
  5. Stone seat wall
  6. Tree planting (species to be determined)
  7. Asphalt walkway

The final design for the new Goldhawk Park South Playground, which has been refined based on community feedback. It will be bright colours (yellow, purple, and orange) and include the play features listed below.]

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

  • A swing set with:
    • One disc swing
    • Two belt swings
  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • One straight slide
    • One climbing option
    • Two play panels
    • One game table
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • One spiral slide
    • Two wavy slides
    • Three overhead climbing options
    • Two overhead accessible climbing options
    • Five climbing options
    • One bridge climber
    • Six stepping pods
    • Four play panels
  • One play panel
  • One talk tube set
  • One sitting spinner toy

July 2023

Online Survey

From June 26 to July 9, 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 354 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 C highest (52 per cent) followed by Playground Design A (30 per cent) and Playground Design B (18 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
    • Belt swings
  • Respondents shared that the three least important features to include in the new playground are:
    • Stand-alone toys (e.g. pretend play structure, quiet corner)
    • Spinner toys
    • Play panels
  • 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
    • Belt swings
  • For seating around the playground:
    • 60 per cent of respondents like seatwalls
    • 84 per cent of respondents like benches
    • 70 per cent of respondents like picnic tables
  • The preferred colour scheme for the new playground was bright colours, like yellow, orange, and purple (55 per cent) over neutral colours with one accent colour like grey, white, black, and turquoise (17 per cent) and earthy colours like green, brown, and grey (16 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 Goldhawk Park Playground improvements, looking to the west from the east. From the lower-left to the upper-right, it includes a climbing obstacle course structure, combined junior senior play structure, group spinner toy, play panels, and a disc swing.

Design A includes:

  • A swing set with one disc swing
  • One combined junior and senior play structure for ages two to 12 with:
    • One angled slide
    • Two wave slides
    • Four climbing options
    • One balance beam
    • One bridge
    • One stepping pod
    • Eight play panels
  • One senior climbing structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • Three overhead climbing options
    • Two climbing options
    • One bridge
    • One stepping pod
    • One spring board
  • Three play panels
  • One group spinner toy
Playground Design B

A rendering of playground Design B for the Goldhawk Park South Playground improvements, looking to the west from the east. From the lower-left to the upper-right, it includes a combined junior and senior structure, two spring toys, large climbing obstacle course, swing set, sitting spinner toy, and a teeter-totter.

Design B 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:
    • Two wave slides
    • One climbing option
    • One hammock swing
    • Three play panels
  • One senior climbing structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • Two overhead climbing options
    • One balance beam
    • Seven climbing options
    • Four bridges
  • Two animal spring toys
  • One teeter-totter
  • One sitting spinner toy
Playground Design C

A rendering of playground Design C for the Goldhawk Park South Playground improvements, looking to the south east from the north west. From the lower-left to the upper-right, it includes a talk tube, climbing obstacle course structure connected to a senior play structure, disc swing, play panel, junior structure, and sitting spinner.

Design C includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • One disc swing
  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • One straight slide
    • One climbing option
    • Two play panels
    • One game table
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • One spiral slide
    • Two wavy slides
    • Three overhead climbing options
    • Two overhead accessible climbing options
    • Five climbing options
    • One bridge climber
    • Six stepping pods
    • Four play panels
  • One play panel
  • One talk tube set
  • One sitting spinner toy

Goldhawk Park is located near the intersection of Steeles Avenue East and McCowan Road and includes two playgrounds. The playground being improved is located at the south side of the park.

The playground currently includes:

  • Two swing sets with:
    • Two swings for ages two to five
    • Four swings for ages five and up
  • One large spiral slide
  • One large straight slide
  • One small straight slide with three climbing options
  • One climbing dome
  • One overhead climbing structure
  • One teeter-totter
  • 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 pathway connecting to 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.