Scarden Park Playground Improvements

The City is improving the playground in Scarden Park. These improvements are part of an ongoing city-wide program to ensure playgrounds provide safe and accessible fun for many years to come.

  • Fall 2023: Community engagement (online survey)
  • October 2023 to May 2024: Detailed design and hire a construction team
  • June 2024: Construction starts, playground and pathway to the playground close
  • Fall 2024: Construction complete, playground and pathway reopen

The timeline is subject to change.

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February 2024

Final Playground Design

The final plan for the new Scarden Park playground, with features listed below. The playground remains in the same location, however the walkway to the south has been removed for the play area expansion, the walkway to the north remains and will be restored. The playground will have one bench on the east edge, one bench on the west edge, armourstone seating to the south, and a concrete accessible ramp into the play area to the north.

The following features will be included in the playground and surrounding area:

  1. Playground area with accessible cedar weave wood fibre safety surfacing and concrete curb
  2. Accessible concrete ramp into play space
  3. Restored asphalt walkway
  4. Armourstone seat wall
  5. Benches on concrete pad
  6. Relocated waste receptacles

The final design for the new Scarden Park playground, which has been refined based on community feedback. It will be bright blue and red colours and include the play features listed below.

The final playground design and layout was determined using feedback from the community. The new playground will be AODA compliant and will include the following features:

  • A swingset with:
    • Two belt swings
    • One toddler swing
    • One accessible swing
  • One combined junior and senior play structure for ages two to 12 with:
    • One double slide
    • Two curved slides
    • Five climbing options
    • One overhead climbing option
    • Two hammocks
    • Two play panels
  • One spinner
  • Two play panels
  • One sensory toadstool sculpture
  • One play house
  • One musical rain stick

November 2023

Online Survey

From October 23 to November 5, 2023, feedback on multiple playground design options was collected in an online survey. The survey was promoted through paid social media ads, outreach to nearby schools, the local Councillor’s office, on-site signage, and on this page. The survey received a total of 286 responses.

Key Feedback Highlights
  • When asked to rank their playground design preference, respondents ranked Playground Design C highest (40 per cent) followed by Playground Design A (38 per cent) and Playground Design B (21 per cent).
  • Respondents shared that the three most important features to include in the new playground are:
    • Climbing structures
    • Senior play structure for ages five to 12
    • Junior play structure for ages two to five
  • Respondents shared that the three least important features to include in the new playground are:
    • Play panels
    • Motion toys (e.g. standing or sitting spinners, spring toys, teeter totters, etc.)
    • Double slide
  • If budget permits, the three features respondents would like more of in the improved playground are:
    • Climbing structures
    • Motion toys (e.g. standing or sitting spinners, spring toys, teeter totters, etc.)
    • Stand-alone toys (e.g. balance beams, tunnels, sensory sculptures, etc.)
  • For seating around the playground:
    • 52 per cent of respondents like seatwalls
    • 87 per cent of respondents like benches
    • 70 per cent of respondents like picnic tables
  • The preferred colour scheme for the new playground was bright colours, like yellow, orange, and purple (49 per cent) over earthy colours like green, brown, and grey (25 per cent) and over neutral colours with one accent colour, like grey, white, black, and bright blue (14 per cent).
Playground Options

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

Playground Design A

A rendering of playground Design A for the Scarden Park Playground improvements, with a slightly elevated view looking to the south-west from the north-east walkway. From the lower-left to the upper-right, it includes a shaded children’s table with play panels, a junior structure, an senior play structure, and a swing set.

Design A includes:

  • A swingset with:
    • Two belt swings
    • One toddler swings
    • One accessible swing
  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • One straight slide
    • Two climbing options
    • One tunnel
    • Two play panels
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • Two curved slides
    • Two climbing options
    • Two bridges
    • Two overhead climbing options
    • Five play panels
  • One shaded play table with seating
  • Two play panels
Playground Design B

A rendering of playground Design B for the Scarden Park Playground improvements, with a slightly elevated view looking to the north-east from the south-west. From the lower-left to the upper-right, it includes a junior play structure, a swing set, and a senior climbing structure.

Design B includes:

  • A swingset with:
    • Two belt swings
    • One toddler swing
    • One accessible swing
  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • One straight slide
    • Four climbing options
    • One chin-up bar
    • One bridge
    • Two play panels
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • Four climbing options
    • One large standing spinner
    • One hammock
Playground Design C

A rendering of playground Design C for the Scarden Park Playground improvements, with a slightly elevated view looking to the south from the north. From the upper-left to the lower-right, it includes a swing set, a group spinner, and a combined junior play and senior play structure.

Design C includes:

  • A swingset with:
    • Two belt swings
    • One toddler swing
    • One accessible swing
  • One combined junior and senior play structure for ages two to 12 with:
    • One double slide
    • One curved slide
    • Five climbing options
    • One overhead climbing option
    • Two hammocks
    • Two play panels
  • One spinner
  • Two play panels
  • One sensory toadstool sculpture

Scarden Park is located south-east of the intersection of Warden Avenue and Cass Avenue. The playground is located at the south-west side of the park.

The playground currently includes:

  • One swing set with:
    • One swing for ages two to five
    • One swing for ages five and up
  • A climbing structure with three play panels, five climbing options, and one spiral slide
  • One spring toy
  • Sand under all play areas

The playground will be redesigned using feedback from the community. The redesigned playground is proposed to include:

  • Playground equipment for ages two to 12
  • Upgraded seating
  • Engineered wood fibre playground surfacing
  • Accessible play equipment and an accessible ramp into the playground area. This means that people of all abilities will be able to play at this playground.

Improvements will only be made in the general playground area. This will not include any new water or lighting features or improvements to other areas of the park.