Review feedback from the most recent online survey and in-person pop-up event in the Community Engagement Phase 2 section.

The City is improving the playground in Randy Padmore Park and exploring opportunities to make additional park improvements through community engagement. The playground improvements are part of an ongoing program to enhance playgrounds and play spaces across the city. As part of a future project, the existing wading pool may be replaced by a new interactive water feature and other amenities.

  • Fall 2023: Hire a design team
  • Spring 2024 to Winter 2025: Community engagement and design development
  • Winter 2025: Detailed design
  • Fall 2025: Hire a construction team and playground construction starts
  • Spring 2026: Playground construction complete

The project to replace the wading pool is anticipated to start in 2028/2029 and will include additional community engagement.

These timelines are subject to change.

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In this phase, the City collected feedback to better understand the park’s challenges and opportunities in an online survey and stakeholder meeting. As an outcome of this phase, the existing playground will be replaced with a new one, along with new park amenities. Additionally, as part of a future project, the wading pool may be replaced with a new interactive water feature.

In Community Engagement Phase 2, an online survey will collect feedback on the playground design and other park improvement options.

May 2024

Online Survey

From April 22 to May 6, an online survey collected feedback from 180 respondents on the community’s priorities for improving the park. The survey was available in English, Portuguese, Traditional and Simplified Chinese.

Feedback Summary
  • When visiting the park, respondents most frequently observe and enjoy nature (40 per cent), play in the playground or supervise kids in the playground (37 per cent), relax (32 per cent), spend time alone (27 per cent) or walk a pet (27 per cent).
  • After park improvements have been made, respondents would most like to observe and enjoy nature (60 per cent), relax (53 per cent), sit and eat (50 per cent), spend time with others (48 per cent) or attend community events (48 per cent) in the park.
  • Nearly half (44 per cent) of respondents prefer an improved but smaller playground and some new park amenities, 33 per cent prefer the existing playground to be improved with new playground equipment and safety surfacing, and no other new amenities and 19 per cent prefer the existing playground be removed and replaced by new amenities.
  • If the playground were to be removed, respondents prefer that it be replaced by improved and/or additional seating, followed by improved and/or additional plants and planting areas, shaded areas, additional lawn areas and improved and/or additional lighting.
  • Additional comments included suggestions to enhance park safety, improve park maintenance and sanitation, replace the wading pool with a splash pad and ensure that park entrances and amenities are accessible to all users.

In this phase, the City and its design consultant developed design options for the new playground and other park improvements based on the outcomes of Community Engagement Phase 1. These options were presented to the community for feedback through an online survey and an in-person pop-up event. As an outcome of this phase, the design team will use the feedback to refine the final playground design.

The final design will be available on this page in the winter of 2025.

November 2024

Online Survey

From November 1 to 16, an online survey collected feedback from 195 respondents on the design options for the new playground, wading pool replacement and other park improvements.

Feedback regarding the playground improvements is summarized below.

  • Overall, 86 per cent of respondents were satisfied with the design options for Randy Padmore Park
  • Of the three playground design options, respondents ranked Option B first (44 per cent), followed by Option C (38 per cent) and Option A (18 per cent)
  • Of the 11 play features for the playground, respondents liked climbing structures most (54 per cent), followed by a senior play structure for ages 5 to 12 (50 per cent) and a merry-go-round (31 per cent)
  • Of the 11 play features for the playground, respondents liked spinner and springer toys the least (29 per cent), followed by play panels (27 per cent) and a see-saw (25 per cent)
  • Of the eight seating options for the playground area, respondents preferred square patio tables with umbrellas (46 per cent), followed by round patio tables with umbrellas (43 per cent) and Muskoka chairs with umbrellas (39 per cent)
  • Of the two colour schemes for the playground, respondents preferred bright colours (45 per cent), followed by earthy colours (42 per cent)
  • Comments included:
    • Make the park accessible and inclusive of all ages
    • Ensure the park is safe for all community members to use
    • Add more green space and plantings, including pollinators and native plants
    • Concerns about encampments and drug use in the park

Feedback regarding the wading pool replacement and other park improvements is summarized:

  • Of the three wading pool replacement options, respondents ranked the interactive all-ages water feature first (37 per cent), followed by the wetland-themed splash pad (32 per cent) and the traditional splash pad (31 per cent)
  • Of the five additional park amenities, respondents ranked drinking fountain and bottle filler with dog fountain first (24 per cent), followed by shade structure (23 per cent), games tables (23 per cent), ping pong table (18 per cent), and raised platform/yoga deck (13 per cent)

Review the wading pool replacement design options.

In-Person Pop-Up Event

On November 3, the project team collected feedback on the design options for the new playground, wading pool replacement and other park improvements at an event in Randy Padmore Park. Approximately 40 community members attended the event and shared their preferences with sticky dots and comments on sticky notes. Two members of the project team were available to provide information, answer questions and capture additional comments. The Deputy Mayor and two staff members were also in attendance.

Feedback regarding the playground improvements is summarized:

  • Participants preferred Playground Design B (12 dots) over Playground Design A and Playground Design C (six dots each)
  • Of the three climbing structure options, participants preferred the structure for ages five to 12 shown in Playground Design B (eight dots)
  • Of the three swing set options, participants preferred the swing set with two belt seats and one disc seat shown in Playground Design C (five dots)
  • Of the six spinner and springer toy options, participants preferred the saddle spinner (seven dots) and curva spinner (six dots)
  • Of the six other standalone play options, respondents preferred the merry-go-round (10 dots) and freestanding curved slide (seven dots)
  • Of the eight seating options, participants preferred round patio tables (17 dots), concrete seatwalls with horizontal slats (10 dots) and Muskoka chairs with umbrellas (nine dots)
  • Comments included suggestions to avoid metal slides and backless benches and include native plants and trees

Feedback regarding the wading pool replacement and other park improvements is summarized below.

  • Overall, participants were satisfied with the design options for Randy Padmore Park (15 dots)
  • Of the three wading pool replacement options, participants preferred the interactive all-ages water feature (21 dots), followed by the wetland-themed splash pad (eight dots) and the traditional splash pad (seven dots)
  • Comments included suggestions to add more shade and a misting station to the interactive water feature area
Playground Options

All three designs are Accessibility for Ontarians with Disability Act (AODA) compliant, have the same amount of play features and cost the same amount.

Playground Design A

The site plan for Playground Design A. From the lower left to the upper right, it includes an accessible ramp, an existing swing set, a slide, an existing seesaw, an existing spring toy, a junior play structure and a curva spinner. New trees and seating are located to the south, west and east of the playground. New planting is located to the southeast.

  1. A junior play structure for ages 18 months to five years with one double slide and multiple play panels
  2. An existing swing set with two belt seats and two bucket seats
  3. One existing seesaw
  4. One slide
  5. One existing daisy spring toy
  6. One curva spinner
  7. An accessible ramp
  8. Two concrete seatwalls with backless bench top
  9. Two benches
  10. Two patio tables with umbrellas
  11. New planting beds
  12. New trees
  13. Trash and recycling bins
Playground Design B

The site plan for Playground Design B. From the lower left to the upper right, it includes post and pod climbers, a climbing structure, a saddle spinner, a stand-up spinner, a springer toy, an accessible ramp and a swing set. New seating is located in the west, northeast and southeast corners of the playground. New trees and plantings are located to the northeast, east and southeast.

  1. A climbing structure for ages five to 12 with a variety of climbers, ladders and artificial rock structures
  2. A swing set with two bucket seats, one belt seat and one inclusive seat
  3. One saddle spinner
  4. One stand-up spinner
  5. One spring toy
  6. Multiple post and pod climbers
  7. An accessible ramp
  8. Boulders
  9. Two patio tables with umbrellas
  10. Three sets of Muskoka chairs with umbrellas
  11. Four benches
  12. New planting beds
  13. New trees
  14. Trash and recycling bins
Playground Design C

The site plan for Playground Design C. From the lower left to the upper right, it includes an accessible ramp, a merry-go-round, a seesaw, a springer, a spinner, a senior play structure and a swing set. New seating is located to the southwest, north and southeast of the playground. New plantings are located to the north and southeast.

  1. A senior play structure for ages five to 12 with one double slide, one corkscrew climber, one shockwave climber, one fire pole, one wood plank ladder, one periscope, one rope climber with a slide off-shoot, and one tilted ladder/bridge
  2. A swing set with two belt seats and one disc seat
  3. One spica spinner
  4. One springer
  5. One seesaw
  6. One merry-go-round
  7. An accessible ramp
  8. Three concrete seatwalls with bench tops
  9. Two benches
  10. Three sets of pod seats and tables
  11. New planting beds
  12. Trash and recycling bins