The City is improving the playground and installing a basketball court in Stephen Leacock Park. The playground improvements are part of the Playground Enhancement Program and the new basketball court is part of the Parks and Recreation Facilities Master Plan. The location of the basketball court is to be determined.

  • Winter 2024: Community engagement
  • Spring 2024: Design development
  • Summer 2024: Detailed design and hire a construction team
  • Fall 2024: Construction starts
  • Late Fall 2024: Construction complete

The timeline is subject to change.

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June 2024

Final Playground Design

The final design for the new Stephen Leacock Park playground, which has been refined based on community feedback. It will be a combination of bright colours, such as red, blue, orange and purple, and include the play features listed below.

The final playground design and layout were determined using feedback from the community. The new playground will be Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) compliant and will include the following features:

  • A swing set with:
    • Two belt swings
    • One toddler swing
    • One accessible swing
  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • One curved slide
    • One straight slide
    • Three climbing options
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • One curved slide
    • One wavy slide
    • Four climbing options
    • One quiet seat
    • Three play panels
  • One large climbing course with:
    • Two stepping pods
    • Two climbing options
    • Four overhead climbing options
  • Two play panels
  • One group spinner toy
  • One large dome climber

April 2024

Online Survey and Classroom Workshops

From February 26 to March 22, 2024, feedback on multiple playground design options was collected through an online survey and classroom workshops.

The survey received a total of 481 responses. It was promoted through paid social media ads, outreach to nearby schools, the local Councillor’s office, on-site signage, and on this page.

The classroom workshops included a total of 90 participants from Pauline Johnson Junior Public School, with students ranging from four to 10 years of age.

Between the online survey and the classroom workshops, a total of 571 responses were received.

The design team will use this feedback to refine the final playground design. The final design will be available on this page in summer 2024.

Key Feedback Highlights
  • When asked to rank their playground design preference, respondents ranked Playground Design C highest (45 per cent) followed by Playground Design B (32 per cent) and Playground Design A (23 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
    • Stand-alone toys (e.g. imaginative play vehicle, play house, sensory sculptures, etc.)
    • Motion toys (e.g. standing or sitting spinners, spring toys, teeter totters, etc.)
  • 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.)
    • Senior play structure for ages five to 12
  • For seating around the playground:
    • 52 per cent of respondents like seatwalls
    • 78 per cent of respondents like picnic tables
    • 83 per cent of respondents like benches
  • The preferred colour scheme for the new playground was bright colours, like yellow, orange, and purple (62 per cent) over earthy colours like green, brown, and grey (28 per cent), and no preference (10 per cent).
  • The preferred colours selected by the Pauline Johnson Junior Public School are red (24 per cent), blue (23 per cent), orange (15 percent), and purple (12 per cent).
Playground Options

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

Playground Design A

Aerial view of Playground Design A looking south. From left to right: swings, overhead group spinner, senior play structure with slides, individual sitting spinner, and junior play structure with slides.

Design A includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • Two belt swings
    • One toddler swing
    • One accessible swing
  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • One double slide
    • Three climbing options
    • Two play panels
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • One curved slide
    • One spiral slide
    • Five climbing options
    • One overhead climbing option
    • Three stepping pods
    • Two bridges
    • Two play panels
  • One sitting spinner toy
  • One overhead group spinner toy
Playground Design B

Aerial view of Playground Design B looking north-east. From left to right: Play panel, junior play structure with slides, play panels, spring toy, standing spinner, senior play structure with slides, two sitting spinners, and swings.

Design B includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • Two belt swings
    • One toddler swing
    • One accessible swing
  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • One double slide
    • Four climbing options
    • One play panel
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • Two curved slides
    • Four climbing options
    • Two play panels
  • One spring snail toy
  • One group standing spinner toy
  • Two individual sitting spinner toys
  • Four play panels
Playground Design C

Aerial view of Playground Design C looking south. From left to right: group spinner, large climbing course, senior play structure with slides, swings, junior play structure with slides, and play panels.

Design C includes:

  • A swing set with:
    • Two belt swings
    • One toddler swing
    • One accessible swing
  • One junior play structure for ages two to five with:
    • One curved slide
    • One straight slide
    • Three climbing options
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 with:
    • One curved slide
    • One wavy slide
    • Four climbing options
    • One quiet seat
    • Three play panels
  • One large climbing course with:
    • Two stepping pods
    • Two climbing options
    • Four overhead climbing options
  • Two play panels
  • One group spinner toy

March 2024

Online Survey

From February 26 to March 10, 2024, feedback on multiple playground design options was collected in an online survey. The survey received a total of 481 responses.

A summary of the survey results will be posted on this page.

Stephen Leacock Park is located on the west side of Birchmount Road, slightly north of Sheppard Avenue East. The playground is located in the north-west corner of the park.

The playground currently includes:

  • One swing set with:
    • Two swings for ages two to five
    • Two swings for ages five and up
  • A standalone medium-sized slide
  • A standalone climbing structure
  • A senior play structure with one play panel, three slides, three overhead climbers, three climbing options, and one balance play option
  • 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
  • Additional seating
  • Engineered wood fibre playground surfacing
  • Accessible play equipment and an accessible pathway connecting to 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 and the proposed location of the new basketball court. This will not include any new water or lighting features or improvements to other areas of the park.