The City is improving the playground in Royal Rouge Tot Lot 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.

The playground and other park improvements will be determined through community engagement. These may include new seating, accessible pathways and adult fitness equipment.

While we aim to provide fully accessible content, there is no text alternative available for some of the content on this site. If you require alternate formats or need assistance understanding our maps, drawings, or any other content, please contact Sung Sim at 647-567-1571.

  • Summer to Fall 2025: Hire a design team and Community Engagement Phase 1
  • Winter 2026: Community Engagement Phase 2
  • Spring 2026: Detailed design
  • Summer 2026: Hire a construction team
  • Fall 2026: Construction starts
  • Late 2026: Construction complete

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 collect and consider public feedback on proposed improvements to inform the development of a final playground and park design.

In this phase, the City collected design ideas and preferences from community members for the playground and park improvements. This input will guide the development of design options in Community Engagement Phase 2.

Community Engagement Meetings and Events

September 2025

Online Survey

From August 25 to September 28, an online survey collected feedback from 142 respondents on priorities for the new playground design and potential park improvements. The survey was promoted through social media, on-site signage, the project mailing list, outreach to nearby schools, the local Councillor’s office and this page.

Feedback Summary

Respondents were asked what play structures they would like the redesigned playground to include:

  • 71 per cent liked both a junior play structure and a senior play structure
  • 19 per cent liked a senior play structure for ages five to 12
  • seven per cent liked a junior play structure for ages two to five
  • three per cent had no preference

Respondents were asked to share their preferred colour scheme for the redesigned playground:

  • 54 per cent liked bright colours such as purple, orange, blue and yellow
  • 29 per cent liked earthy colours such as green, brown and grey
  • 17 per cent had no preference

When respondents were asked which scenario they prefer for the park improvements:

  • 52 per cent chose expanding and improving the existing playground by using part of the open lawn
  • 45 per cent chose improving the existing playground within its current footprint and adding new recreation facilities or amenities in the open lawn
  • three per cent had no preference

When respondents were asked what they most wanted to do on an improved open lawn, the top-ranked activities were:

  • play and spend time with children (23 per cent)
  • play sports (19 per cent)
  • play games (nine per cent)

If improvements are made to the open lawn, the recreation facilities or amenities respondents would like are:

  • a soccer and multi-use field (40 per cent)
  • a fitness area (31 per cent)
  • a shade structure (29 per cent)

If budget permits, the additional park features respondents would like are:

  • a drinking fountain and water bottle filler (29 per cent)
  • new seating areas (29 per cent)
  • game tables (23 per cent)
  • new plantings (18 per cent)

For seating in the park:

  • 79 per cent of respondents liked benches
  • 70 per cent of respondents liked patio tables with umbrellas and chairs
  • 62 per cent of respondents liked picnic tables
  • 57 per cent of respondents liked armour stone seatwalls
  • 45 per cent of respondents liked Muskoka chairs

42 respondents provided additional feedback on the proposed playground and park improvements. Common themes included:

  • suggestions for specific types of playground equipment (six comments)
  • ensuring the park is accessible and inclusive for people of all ages and abilities (five comments)
  • improving lighting in the park (five comments)
  • preserving green space (five comments)

In this phase, the City and its design consultant used the outcomes of Community Engagement Phase 1 to develop three design options for the playground improvements. These options, and other park improvements, were presented to the community for feedback, which will be used to develop a final design.

The anticipated outcomes of this phase are the selection of a final playground design and the refinement of the proposed fitness area design.

Park Improvements

Site plan for the improved Royal Rouge Tot Lot with numbers that correspond to the list of features immediately after the image.

  1. Existing asphalt pathway
  2. New benches
  3. New drinking fountain and water bottle filler
  4. New accessible picnic table
  5. Existing concrete paving
  6. New 280-square-metre playground with wood fibre safety surfacing
  7. Existing 165-square-metre playground with sand surfacing (shown with a red dashed line)
  8. New 56-square-metre fitness area with wood fibre safety surfacing
  9. New asphalt pathway
  10. New armour stones in an amphitheatre-style arrangement

Playground Design Options

All three designs are Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) compliant, include a similar number of play features with wood fibre safety surfacing and cost about the same amount.

Design Option A: Green and Tan Theme

Playground Design Option A rendering. From left to right: swing set, seated spinner toy, junior play structure, senior play structure and play panels.

Design Option A includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • two belt swings
    • one bucket swing
    • one accessible swing
  • A junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • one platform
    • one double slide
    • one rope climber
    • one platform-level play feature
    • two ground-level play features
  • A senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • one curving slide
    • one net climber
    • one multi-level rope and panel climber
    • one ground-level play feature
  • A seated spinner toy
  • Play panels

Design Option B: Purple and Teal Theme

Playground Design Option B rendering. From left to right: the junior play structure, senior play structure, car-shaped spring toy, overhead climber, barrel spinner toy and swing set.

Design Option B includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • two belt swings
    • one bucket swing
    • one accessible swing
  • A junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • one platform
    • one double slide
    • two climbers
    • one ground-level play feature
  • A senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • two platforms
    • one wavy slide
    • one spiral slide
    • four climbers
    • platform- and ground-level play features
  • An overhead climber
  • A car-shaped spring toy
  • A barrel spinner toy

Design Option C: Rainbow Theme

Playground Design Option C rendering. From left to right: overhead climber, bowl-shaped spinner toy, junior play structure, senior play structure and swing set.

Design Option C includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • two belt swings
    • one bucket swing
    • one accessible swing
  • A junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • one platform
    • one double slide
    • one climber
    • one platform-level play feature
  • A senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • two platforms
    • one wavy slide
    • one veering slide
    • four climbers
    • platform- and ground-level play features
  • An overhead climber
  • A bowl-shaped spinner toy

Proposed Fitness Area Design

Outdoor fitness area rendering. From left to right: parallel bars, double push-up bars and a long bench on a rectangular surface. Instruction panels are installed on posts at each end.

The proposed design includes:

  • Two instruction panels
  • Parallel bars
  • Double push-up bars
  • Long bench

Community Engagement Meetings and Events

January 2026

Online Survey

From December 12 to January 21, an online survey collected feedback from 108 respondents on design options for the playground and park improvements. The survey was promoted through social media, on-site signage, the project mailing list, outreach to nearby schools, the local Councillor’s office and this page.

Feedback Summary: Playground Design Options

When asked to rank the playground design options in order from favourite (1) to least favourite (3):

  • 41 respondents ranked Design Option A first
  • 30 respondents ranked Design Option C first
  • 21 respondents ranked Design Option B first

Respondents shared that the three most important features to include in the redesigned playground are:

  • belt swings (43 per cent)
  • overhead climber (38 per cent)
  • accessible swing (29 per cent)

Respondents shared that the three least important features to include in the redesigned playground are:

  • stand-up spinner toys (32 per cent)
  • stand-up spring toys (29 per cent)
  • play panels (23 per cent)

Overall, 92 per cent of respondents were satisfied with the playground design options, five per cent were neutral and two per cent were dissatisfied.

Feedback Summary: Park Improvements

Respondents shared their level of satisfaction with the proposed design for the fitness area:

  • 55 per cent were satisfied
  • 25 per cent were neutral
  • 21 per cent were dissatisfied

Respondents indicated their level of agreement with descriptive statements about the park improvements:

  • 85 per cent agreed that they like the types of seating provided
  • 83 per cent agreed that the expanded playground provides enough space for play
  • 82 per cent agreed that they support maintaining the open lawn as a flexible space for recreation
  • 78 per cent agreed that the inclusion of a fitness area supports a healthy and active lifestyle for all ages and abilities

Overall, 92 per cent of respondents were satisfied with the park improvements, six per cent were neutral and two per cent were dissatisfied.

34 respondents provided additional feedback on how to make the park improvements more welcoming and accessible to all community members, some of which was outside the project scope. Common themes included:

  • equipment suggestions for the fitness area, such as a climbing net, pull-up bars and items for seniors (14 comments)
  • adding washrooms (three comments)
  • adding a splash pad (three comments)
  • adding lighting (two comments)
  • adding a walking/running track (two comments)
In-Person Pop-Up Event

On January 13, the project team held a pop-up event at Rouge Valley Public School from 3 to 5:30 p.m. to collect feedback on design options for the playground and park improvements. Approximately 78 community members participated in the event. The local Councillor and one staff member were also in attendance.

Participants used dot stickers and sticky notes to share their preferences and comments.

Feedback Summary: Playground Design Options

When asked which playground design option they liked best:

  • 35 participants preferred Design Option C
  • 21 participants preferred Design Option A
  • 20 participants preferred Design Option B

Participants shared that the three most important features to include in the redesigned playground are:

  • stand-up spinner toys (18 votes)
  • belt swings (16 votes)
  • accessible swing (15 votes)
Feedback Summary: Park Improvements

When asked to share their level of satisfaction with the proposed design for the fitness area:

  • four participants were satisfied
  • three participants were neutral
  • 14 participants were dissatisfied

When asked to indicate their level of agreement with descriptive statements about the park improvements:

  • six participants agreed that the expanded playground provides enough space for play
  • five participants agreed that they like the types of seating provided
  • five participants agreed that the inclusion of a fitness area supports a healthy and active lifestyle for all ages and abilities
  • five participants agreed that they support maintaining the open lawn as a flexible space for recreation

Overall, six participants were satisfied with the park improvements, one participant was neutral and no participants were dissatisfied.

Seventeen participants provided additional feedback on how to make the park improvements more welcoming and accessible to all community members. Common themes included:

  • requests for more equipment in the fitness area, such as equipment for leg and full-body workouts and an elliptical (six comments)
  • equipment suggestions for the playground, such as an obstacle course (two comments)
  • adding lighting (two comments)

 

Royal Rouge Tot Lot is located at 65 Royal Rouge Tr., near Sheppard Avenue East and Kingston Road in Scarborough.

The playground is located near the centre of the park and currently includes:

  • One swing set with:
    • one swing for ages two to five
    • one swing for ages five and up
  • A junior play structure with a small slide
  • Two teeter-totters
  • 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
  • Additional 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 AODA. Learn more about how playgrounds are made accessible.

Improvements to the playground will not include any new water or lighting features. Improvements to other areas of the park will be guided by community feedback and may include new seating, accessible pathways and adult fitness equipment.