Pricefield Road Playground Park Improvements

The City is improving Pricefield Road Playground, located near Yonge Street and Summerhill Avenue, and engaging the community in the park design. Proposed improvements include new pathways, seating, signage, lighting, an upgraded basketball court, a water feature, plantings and opportunities for Indigenous and ecological stewardship.

    • Spring 2025: Hire a design team and community engagement
    • Fall 2025: Detailed design
    • Spring 2026: Hire a construction team
    • Summer 2026: Construction starts
    • Fall 2027: Construction complete

    The timeline is subject to change.

    In 2023, a student-led team from Toronto Metropolitan University engaged the community to explore improvements to Pricefield Road Playground. Supported by the Councillor’s office and City staff, and initiated by a resident-led steering committee, the team worked with a landscape architecture firm to develop design options based on community input and research.

    From September to November 2023, a series of engagement activities gathered feedback on park use, desired changes and key features to retain. An online survey collected input from 22 residents, while a virtual town hall introduced the project and allowed 20 attendees to discuss priorities for the space. Two in-person pop-up events provided opportunities for hands-on feedback, engaging a total of 34 community members. The process concluded with a design workshop at the Toronto Lawn and Tennis Club, where 38 participants explored design options, research findings and next steps.

    Feedback Summary

    Vision Statement

    The following vision was developed to describe the ideal future park:

    Pricefield Road Playground will function as a community hub that enhances public life by fostering social connections. It will serve all community members’ recreational needs and desires as the neighbourhood grows over time. The park will maintain its existing natural beauty while acting as a gateway into the City’s wider ravine and trail system to strengthen visitors’ connections to the natural landscapes of Toronto.

    Guiding Principles

    The following guiding principles were developed to guide the park improvements:

    • Improving accessibility
    • Opportunities for girls and adolescents
    • Restoring connections to natural and Indigenous heritage

    Areas to Improve

    The following areas of improvement were synthesized from the community engagement process:

    • Recreation opportunities for a broader range of age groups
    • Improving sightlines and lighting
    • Additional seating
    • Improve wayfinding and connectivity to the surrounding neighbourhood context
    • Improve existing amenities in the park (such as playground facilities)

    Opportunities

    Through consultation and research, the following areas of opportunity were identified:

    • The additional capacity to facilitate social interaction
    • Increased opportunities for circulation and walking paths in the park
    • The ability to incorporate Indigenous and ecological stewardship into park design
    • Increase signage and wayfinding
    • The ability to increase safety and visibility through lighting and adaptive maintenance
    • Increase in accessibility by increasing amenities that include all residents

    Diverging Opinions

    Through consultation and research, the following areas of divergent opinions were identified:

    • The incorporation of an off-leash or unfenced dog area within the park
    • The current or future state of facility maintenance, particularly in reference to snow removal and winter maintenance
    • Improved connections to Toronto’s Core Circle and Ravine System
    • How to address community safety and ways to mitigate interference with the existing sense of safety in the neighbourhood

    Design Options

    Two design options were developed based on the feedback collected through the online survey, virtual town hall meeting, and in-person pop-up events. These design options were presented at the in-person design workshop for community input.

    Option 1 – The Web

    Plan view of the park improvements proposed in design option 1, divided into various zones, each labeled with its function and approximate area in square meters. The park is bordered by the CN Railway to the north, Thornwood II Condominium to the west, and Toronto Lawn Tennis Club to the south, with Mathersfield Drive running along the east side.

    The park includes the following sections:

    • A garden area (approximately 850m2) in the northwest, shown in green.
    • A dog area (approximately 800m2) in the north, shown in blue.
    • A multi-use play area (approximately 500m2) in the northeast, shown in orange.
    • An open green space (approximately 1000m2) in the central-west, shown in light green.
    • A picnic area (approximately 800m2) in the southwest, shown in pink.
    • A plaza at the centre, shown in yellow.
    • A playground area (approximately 650m2) along the east side near Mathersfield Drive, shown in gray.
    • A play space (approximately 750m2) in the south. shown in light purple.
    • A seating area (approximately 400m2) in the south, near the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, shown in yellow.

    The plan also includes walking paths, trees and seating areas throughout the park, with the different zones separated by dashed black lines.

    Option 2 – Gathering Hub

    Plan view of the park improvements proposed in design option 2, showing various designated areas with their functions and approximate sizes in square meters. The park is bordered by the CN Railway to the north, Thornwood II Condominium to the west, and Toronto Lawn Tennis Club to the south, with Mathersfield Drive running along the east side.

    The park includes the following zones:

    • A garden area (approximately 700m2) in the northwest, shown in green.
    • A train viewing area (approximately 350m2) in the north, shown in blue.
    • A sports area (approximately 900m2) in the northeast, shown in orange.
    • An open green space (approximately 1300m2) in the west, shown in light green.
    • A picnic area (approximately 800m2) in the southwest, shown in pink.
    • A social buffer area (approximately 500m2) in the south, shown in gray.
    • A play space (approximately 900m2) in the south, shown in light purple.
    • A casual seating area (approximately 400m²) in the south near the Toronto Lawn Tennis Club, shown in yellow.
    • Bushes along the eastern edge of the park, near Mathersfield Drive, which provide a natural barrier.

    The plan features pathways, trees, and seating areas spread throughout the park. The different zones are outlined with dashed black lines for clarity.