The City is improving the playground and splash pad in McNicoll Park. The playground improvements are 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.

  • Spring to Early Summer 2025: Hire a design team
  • Early Summer 2025: Community Engagement Phase 1
  • Fall 2025: Community Engagement Phase 2
  • Late Fall 2025 to Winter 2026:  Detailed design
  • Spring 2026: Hire a construction team
  • Late Summer 2026: Construction starts, playground and splash pad closes
  • Late Fall 2026: Construction complete, playground and splash pad reopen

The timeline is subject to change.

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Level of Engagement

This project has been classified as a Consult project based on the International Association of Public Participation Spectrum. This means we obtain and consider the community’s feedback and preferences to inform the final playground and splash pad design.

In this phase, the project team will collect design ideas from community members for the new playground which will guide the development of design options in Community Engagement Phase 2.

The community engagement activities in this phase include:

  • an online survey
  • youth engagement event

June 2025

Online Survey

From June 16 to 29, an online survey collected feedback from 226 respondents on preferences for playground and splash pad features. The project team will use this feedback to develop playground and splash pad design options.

A summary of the feedback received will be posted on this page when available.

Youth Engagement Event

On June 11, 200 students at Hillmount Public School participated in an in-person engagement activity to share preferences for playground features. The project team will use this feedback to develop playground options.

A summary of the feedback received will be posted on this page when available.

In this phase, the City and its design consultant will work off the outcomes of Community Engagement Phase 1 and share three playground design options with the community for feedback. The feedback will be used to develop a preferred option for the playground.

The community engagement activities in this phase include:

  • an online survey
  • an in-person pop-up event

The anticipated outcome of this phase is the selection of a preferred option.

McNicoll Park Playground is in the northwest area of the park, north of the field and south of the splash pad.

The playground currently includes:

  • two swing sets with:
    • four swings for ages two to five
    • four swings for ages five and up
  • a small sized slide with three climbing options
  • a large spiral slide
  • a junior play structure with:
    • a small curved slide
    • three climbing options
    • two play panels
    • one talk tube set
  • a senior play structure with:
    • one large covered slide
    • five climbing options
    • one overhead climbing option
  • one sand table
  • 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
  • upgraded 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.