Ritchie Avenue Parkette Playground Improvements

Review feedback from the online survey in the Project Updates section.

The City is improving the playground in Ritchie Avenue Parkette as 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.
  • December 2025: Community engagement
  • Winter to Spring 2026: Detailed design and hire a construction team
  • Late Summer/Early Fall 2026: Construction starts, playground closes
  • Late Fall 2026: Construction complete, playground reopens

The timeline is subject to change.

Level of Engagement

This project has been classified as a Consult project based on the International Association for Public Participation Spectrum. This means we collect and consider public feedback on proposed design options to inform the development of a final playground design.

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March 2026

Online Survey

From December 12 to February 26, feedback on multiple playground design options was collected in an online survey. The survey was promoted through paid social media ads, the local Councillor’s office, on-site signage and on this page. The survey received a total of 147 responses.

The design team will use this feedback to refine the final playground design. The final design will be available on this page in Spring 2026.

Key Feedback Highlights
  • When asked to rank their playground design preference, respondents ranked Playground Design C highest (48 per cent), followed by Playground Design A (32 per cent) and Playground Design B (20 per cent).
  • Respondents shared that the three most important features to include in the new playground are:
    • climbing options
    • senior play for ages five to 12
    • tall Slides
  • Respondents shared that the three least important features to include in the new playground are:
    • play panels
    • stand-alone toys (e.g. spring toy)
    • low slides
  • If budget permits, the three features respondents would like more of in the improved playground are:
    • climbing options
    • senior play for ages five to 12
    • tall slides
  • The preferred colour scheme for the new playground was a mix of both earthy and bright (28 per cent) over earthy colours like green, brown and grey (27 per cent), or bright colours like purple, orange, or yellow (25 per cent). 
Playground Options

All three designs are AODA compliant, have the same amount of play features and cost the same amount.

Playground Design A

Aerial rendering of playground Option A looking south-east showing a large play structure in the centre and a swingset to the right. All play features are described below.

Design A includes:

  • a swing set with:
    • two belt swings (ages five and up)
    • one toddler swing
    • one accessible swing
  • a combined junior and senior play structure for ages two to 12 with:
    • one spiral slide
    • six climbing options
    • one set of talk tubes
    • multiple play panels
  • one set of talk-tubes

Playground Design B

Aerial render of the playground option B looking south-east, showing from left to right: play panels, spring toy, play structure, swingset, with other features as described below.

Design B includes:

  • a swing set with:
    • two belt swings (ages five and up)
    • one toddler swing
    • one accessible swing
  • a combined junior and senior play structure for ages two to 12 with:
    • one spiral slide
    • one double slide
    • three climbing options
    • multiple play panels
  • one solo spring toy
  • one solo spinner toy
  • two stand-alone play panels
  • one set of talk-tubes

Playground Design C

Aerial rendering showing playground option C looking south-east with features from left to right: swing set, play structure, spring toy, and stand-alone play panels. All play features are described below.

Design C includes:

  • a swing set with:
    • two belt swings
    • one toddler swing
    • one accessible swing
  • a combined junior and senior play structure for ages two to 12 with:
    • one double slide
    • one curved slide
    • four climbing options
    • multiple play panels
  • a small playhouse for ages two to five
  • one spring toy
  • one stand-alone play panel set

 

Ritchie Avenue Parkette Playground is located at the centre of the Parkette, adjacent to the table tennis area.

The playground currently includes:

  • one swing set with:
    • one swing for ages two to five
    • two swings for ages five and up
    • one accessible swing for all ages
  • a junior climbing structure with two medium slides
  • a spring toy
  • 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
  • revised 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.