Smythe Park Playground Improvements

The City is improving the playground in Smythe Park 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.

  • Winter 2025: Community engagement (online survey)
  • Spring 2025: Detailed design
  • Summer 2025: Construction permits
  • Fall 2025: Hire a construction team
  • Spring 2026: Construction starts, playground closes
  • Late Spring 2026: Construction complete, playground reopens

The timeline is subject to change.

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March 2025

Online Survey

From March 11 to March 25, 2025, 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 687 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 2025.

Key Feedback Highlights

When asked to rank their playground design preference:

  1. Playground Design B highest (43 per cent)
  2. Playground Design A (30 per cent)
  3. Playground Design C (27 per cent)

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

  • Climbing structure
  • 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
  • Stand-alone toys
  • Group spinner

If budget permits, the three features respondents would like more of in the improved playground are:

  • Climbing structures
  • Senior play structure for ages five to 12
  • Tall slides

The preferred colour scheme for the new playground was bright colours, like yellow, orange, and purple (34 per cent), over earthy colours like green, brown, and grey (16 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

An aerial view of Playground Design A looking to the east from the west. From the lower left to the upper right, it includes two stand-alone climbing structures, an all-ages play structure, and a swing set

Design A includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • Four belt swings
    • Three toddler swings
    • One accessible swing
  • A play structure for ages two to 12 with:
    • One medium height double slide
    • One tall curved slide
    • Four climbing options including an insect climber
    • One play panel, one play table, and one small “hammock” seat
  • One stand-alone pair of vertical climbers for ages five to 12
Playground Design B

An aerial view of Playground Design B looking to the north from the south. From the lower left to the upper right, it includes a stand-alone play panel, junior play equipment, senior play equipment, a spring toy, and a swing set.

Design B includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • Four belt swings
    • Three toddler swings
    • One accessible swing
  • A play structure for ages two to 12 with:
    • Two tall slides including one with a climbing ramp up
    • One low slide
    • Five climbing options including monkey bars, stepping, and balancing options
    • One pod seat under deck for quiet play
  • One pod spinner
  • One chair spinner
  • One pair of talk-tubes
  • One gear panel
  • One spring toy
Playground Design C

An aerial view of Playground Design C looking to the south from the north. From the lower left to the upper right, it includes a swing set, senior play structures, a junior play structure, spring toys, a stand-alone play panel.

Design C includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • Four belt swings
    • Three toddler swings
    • One accessible swing
  • A play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • One tall triple slide
    • One tall single slide
    • Eight climbing options including monkey bars, sideways climbing, stepping, and balancing
    • One seat below deck
  • A small play structure for ages two to five with:
    • One climbing option
    • One low slide
    • One play panel
    • One wheel panel
  • One stand-alone play panel
  • One spring toy
  • One group spinner

Smythe Park Playground is located near the outdoor pool.

The playground currently includes:

  • two swing sets with:
    • four swings for ages two to five
    • four swings for ages five and up
  • one small play structure with three slides for ages two to five
  • one large play structure with four slides for ages five to 12
  • 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
  • new engineered wood fiber surfacing
  • new seating

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.