Terraview Park Playground & Splash Pad Improvements

Project Timeline

• Spring 2023: Hire a design team
• Winter to Summer 2024: Community engagement
  • February 2024: Phase 1, Towards a Vision
  • April 2024: Phase 2, Exploring Design Options
  • July 2024: Phase 3, Sharing the Direction
• Fall 2024: Design development
• Winter 2024 to Spring 2025: Detailed design
• Spring 2025: Hire a construction team
• Spring to Summer 2025: Construction starts
• Fall 2025: Construction complete

The timeline is subject to change.

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Level of Engagement

This project has been classified as an Involve project based on the International Association of Public Participation Spectrum. This means we work directly with the public, stakeholders, and rightsholders throughout the design process to ensure that ideas and aspirations are understood and considered in the design process.

Community Engagement Phase 1: Towards a Vision

In this phase of the community engagement process, the City worked with local community members and the Community Resource Group (CRG) to define a renewed overall vision for the playground and splash pad, including a series of guiding principles and big moves that will lead the development of two design options in Community Engagement Phase 2.

Vision Statement

A vision statement is a short description of the ideal future improvements. It inspires everyone toward a common understanding of the project’s overall goals.

The vision for Terraview Park is:

The Terraview Park Playground and Splash Pad will be a place where families come together in the spirit of play, embraced by the natural beauty of the wetland and water reservoir systems of Taylor Massey Creek. It’s a place where the joy of the outdoors beckons children and families to unplug and reconnect. Amidst native vegetation, the play areas offer lookout spots for observing birds and wildlife, fostering a sense of discovery, learning and connection with nature.

Guiding Principles

Guiding principles are high-level directions that reflect the community’s most important values and ideas for how the playground and splash pad should look and feel. They help guide the improvements so that the vision statement can be achieved. The guiding principles for Terraview Park are:

Community harmony

Foster a welcoming atmosphere where community bonds are strengthened.

Safety and accessibility

Ensure a secure and inclusive environment for children and families of all abilities.

Nature-infused play

Integrate natural elements to provide a serene yet stimulating play experience.

Family-centered design

Create spaces that encourage family activities and intergenerational engagement.

Big Moves

Big moves are the main priorities for the design of the park. They are specific directions to the design team that flow from the vision and principles and help to make them a reality. The big moves for Terraview Park are:

Innovative play structures

Implement the most desired features like climbing structures and age-appropriate play areas while phasing out less popular elements.

Interactive splash pad

Develop a splash pad with diverse water features that appeal to all ages and blend seamlessly with the natural setting.

Thematic cohesion

Adopt an organic, wetland-themed design to harmonize with the park’s existing ecosystem.

Comfort and convenience

Integrate shade, seating, and hydration stations to enhance comfort for extended stays.

Community Engagement Meetings and Events

March 2024

Online Survey

From February 20 to March 12, 210 community members provided feedback on the vision for the design of the future playground and splash pad in an online survey. The feedback collected in this survey will help develop design options.

Download the March 2024 survey summary.

February 2024

Community Resource Group Workshop

On February 27, the project team hosted a virtual workshop with community stakeholders, including local Friends of Park representatives. During the workshop, participants had the opportunity to discuss opportunities and challenges and engage in an interactive visioning exercise where they shared ideas for a community-led vision, guiding principles and big moves for the playground and splash pad.

Review the workshop idea board.

Key feedback follows.

Participants liked the following about the existing park:

• The concentrated active play area for easier supervision.
• The play features for children ages one to three years.
• The park is welcoming to all generations, with activities for both young and older children.
• The park’s beautiful setting, aquatic life and natural heritage.
• The park has various activities like picnics and play.
• The shade structure.
• The benches and shelter, with a preference for fixed seating in the design.

Participants wanted to see the following improvements to the existing park:

• More seating with backs and armrests and picnic tables that are not moveable.
• Improved drainage to help with flooding issues along the pathway.
• Upgrades to the splash pad and playground that consider maintenance and accessibility.
• Improved playground surfacing – flat wood fibre suggested to deter geese.
• Informative signage about the pond’s wildlife to add educational value to the park.
• Subtle, potentially solar-powered lighting to support park use during the evening, as suggested by one participant. During the workshop discussion, some participants expressed their preference against adding additional lighting to the park. The project team indicated that adding new light features might not be possible without pre-existing infrastructure.

Participants shared their ideas for the vision, guiding principles and big moves in a brainstorming activity. A common theme was to create an environment that is inviting, accessible, embodies equity and has additional seating and gathering areas. There was a strong preference for the space to be engaging for all, and nurture learning, growth and independence. The vision is a community hub where community members meet their friends and neighbours in a calm and harmonious environment.

The following is a summary of the brainstorming activity.

• Add seating that is oriented towards the playground, splash pad and ponds.
• Explore dual-purpose seating with integrated nozzles for the splash pad.
• Add new picnic tables that are not moveable.
• Avoid adding bistro and café-style tables with umbrellas because of their cost and not being as effective in providing shade. Instead, add picnic tables under the existing shade structure.
• Consider adding an elevated platform as a lookout for enjoying the surroundings. A participant shared that a binocular station would allow visitors to observe the ponds more closely.
• If the existing iron railing is in poor condition, replace it with a glass railing to enhance the view of the pond. The project team indicated that using glass was not feasible, but that the railing would be replaced if it was damaged.
• Add interactive elements to the splash pad, like a squirt gun that sprays water in different directions.
• Add a tunnel, overhead climbers, swings and slides of varying sizes to the playground.
• Ensure the slides use a material that does not get too hot, like plastic.
• Use the areas under the play structure as additional play space.
• Add a shade structure and consider repurposing or salvaging the existing one to allocate funds for other amenities.
• Add accessible pathways between the park and splash pad for stroller access.
• Add a water bottle filling station with a dog bowl.
• Coordinate the location of new garbage bins with solid waste management. The project team confirmed that this is a typical step taken during the detailed design process.
• Explore adding pop-up events at a nearby apartment neighbourhood and consider this for the next phase of engagement. The project team committed to incorporating these changes into the engagement plan.

Community Engagement Phase 2: Exploring Design Options

In this phase of the community engagement process, the City and its design consultant used the outcomes of Community Engagement Phase 1 to develop two design options for the park improvements. These were presented to the community and Community Resource Group (CRG) for feedback with the input collected used to develop a final design for the park.

The anticipated outcome of this phase is the selection of a final design.

Design Options

The playground and the splash pad are on top of engineered wood fiber surfacing in both design options. This surface is accessible for people with a mobility device or stroller and has an anti-slip quality to prevent falling.

Design Option 1: Traditional Refresh

This design option retains the layout of the playground and splash pad and adds new elements. The playground continues to offer a variety of equipment for children’s activities in its original location. A sandbox encourages imaginative play, surrounded by seating for relaxation and supervision. The splash pad, located north of the shade structure, has an updated water play area. A new ping pong table is located near the playground for visitors of all ages to engage in active play.

Playground features:

• P1. Senior play structure with two curved slides, a boulder climber and two net climber
• P2. Junior play structure with a double slide, stairs and metal climbers
• P3. One swing set with one inclusive swing seat, one toddler swings for ages two to five, and two belt swings for ages five to 12
• P4. Two stand up spinners and one saddle spinner
• P5. Double spring toy
• P6. Sand table
• P7. Cozy dome

Splash pad features:

• S1. Serpent-themed tall upright spray
• S2. Cattail-themed upright spray
• S3. Flower-themed tall upright spray
• S4. Bullfrog-themed tunnel/arch spray
• S5. Ground spray
• S6. Rooster tail ground spray
• S7. Activator bollard

Additional features:

• O1. Existing shade structure
• O2. Picnic table
• O3. Bench
• O4. Ping pong table
• O5. Bike rack
• O6. Upright logs and boulders
• O7. Armourstone seat wall
• O8. Bottle filler
  O9. New asphalt path

Design Option 2: Creek Edge

This design option has a new layout where the splash pad and playground have switched places. The playground is located near the exposed creek edge, offering a tranquil environment that blends with nature. The splash pad is surrounded by pathways and a metal pergola structure with seating. The seating is arranged in a way that provides views of the entire park as well as the creek’s edge. New game tables are added for visitors of all ages.

Playground features:

• P1. Senior play structure with one large curved slides, a double slide, and rope climbers
• P2. Junior play structure with one straight slide, a tunnel, play panels, and balancing steps
• P3. One swing set with one inclusive swing seat, two toddler swings for ages two to five, and two belt swings for ages five to 12
• P4. One see-saw
• P5. Play panels
• P6. Stand-up spinners

Splash pad features:

• S1. Curved upright spray
• S2. Cannon shooter spray
• S3. Concrete spray wall
• S4. Dumping buckets
• S5. Arched spray
• S6. Water tunnel
• S7. Ground spray
• S8. Activator bollard

Additional features:

• O1. Metal pergola
• O2. Picnic table
• O3. Backed bench on concrete seatwall
• O4. Backless bench on concrete seatwall
• O5. Podium seating
• O6. Game tables (e.g. chess)
• O7. Bike rack
• O8. Bottle filler
• O9. New asphalt path

Community Engagement Meetings and Events

May 2024

Community Resource Group Workshop

On May 8, the project team hosted a virtual workshop with community stakeholders, including local Friends of Park representatives. Participants engaged in a collaborative discussion about the design options and took part in an interactive activity to share ideas to help achieve the community’s vision, guiding principles and big moves for the playground and splash pad.

Key feedback follows.

Participants liked the following about Design Option 1, Traditional Refresh:

• The expansion area on the west side, including seating and added playground features like the cozy dome.
• The improved seating options, like seating with backs that improve accessibility for older adults.
• The existing shade structure that provides enough shade and weather protection.
• The upright logs and boulders around the perimeters of the site.
• The green/natural colour scheme of the play structures, which aligns with the community’s vision.
• The boulder seating which doubles as an aesthetic feature.
• The ping pong table, which is favoured over game tables.
• The junior structure which is more challenging for young children.
• That the design does not take space away from the current play area footprint.

Participants wanted to the following improvements to Design Option 1, Traditional Refresh:

• A more challenging senior play structure for children ages five to 12, especially compared to Option 2.
• Reconsider the spinner options as they are less exciting.
• Enhance the splash pad to make it more interactive.

Participants liked the following about Design Option 2, Creek’s Edge:

• The location and height of the senior play structure.
• The interactive splash pad features, especially compared to the static ones in Option 1.
• The blue colour scheme.

Participants wanted to the following improvements to Design Option 2, Creek’s Edge:

• An increased number of seating options with backs.
• Avoid using platform seating.
• Seating that takes up less space and provides more useful and varied accessible options.
• Remove the game tables, as they are unlikely to be interacted with.
• Replace the metal pergola with the existing shade structure to provide adequate shade and save on costs, allowing more investment in play features.
• Ensure the location of the swings considers the safety area, preventing kids from walking into it when approaching the playground.
• Consider the junior play structure from Option 1, as Option 2’s junior play structure does not provide enough height or variety.

Comments related to specific components follows.

• Park Layout
  • Do not take space away from the play area.
  • The new pathway is good but ensure it does not flood like the current one.
  • Consider that people want to walk close to the edge to observe the flora and fauna.
  • Prefer the layout in Option 1, but the new layout works well if we go with the senior play structure in Option 2.
• Seating Areas
  • Dislike platform seating.
  • Need more seating with backs.
  • Prefer more picnic tables and places to eat.
  • Ensure the seating is bolted and not moveable.
  • Like the style of the modern seating options in Option 2.
• Play Areas
  • Dislike the game tables.
  • Like the inclusion of a cozy dome.
  • Add a friendship swing.
  • Provide more challenges for older kids (ages five to 12).
  • Add monkey bars.
  • Like the height of the junior play structure in Option 1.
  • Like the height of the senior play structure in Option 2.
  • Unsure if the ping pong table will be favourable.
  • Consider including the ping pong table as a placeholder and determine its location for future implementation.
• Splash Pad
  • Like the interactive options for older kids in Option 2.
  • Like the idea of two cannon shooter guns that let kids interact with each other.
  • Note that cannon shooter spray and dumping buckets are not available in nearby splash pads.
• Shade Structure
  • Dislike the pergola as it does not provide adequate shade and weather protection.
  • Keep the shade structure but consider reconfiguring or relocating it to be accommodated in Option 2.
• Additional Features
  • Like the bottle filling station in both options.
  • Do not see a huge need for a bike rack as many arrive at the park on foot; however, it was acknowledged that they provide a space to allocate and organize bikes.

Review the May 8, 2024 workshop idea board.

Online Survey

From April 30 to May 21, 255 community members provided feedback on the design options for the new playground and splash pad in an online survey. The feedback collected in this survey will be used to develop a final design.

Download the May 2024 survey summary.

In-Person Community Pop-Up Events

On May 11, the project team held a pop-up event from 1:30 to 5 p.m. at Terraview Park, near the playground and splash pad areas to engage users of the facilities. Community members could meet the project team, participate in fun activities and provide feedback in person.

Key feedback, with the total number of ‘agree’ responses in parentheses, follows.

Overall preference with Design Option 1, Traditional Refresh (10):

• The playground includes the most desired features (three)
• The splash pad includes interactive features (three)
• There is a good integration of natural elements (two)
• The design encourages family activities (two)
• There are enough seating options throughout (one)
• I like the location of the play and splash pad areas (four)
• I like the theme and style of the playground features (eight)
• I like the theme and types of water features (one)

Overall preference with Design Option 2, Creek’s Edge (16):

• The playground includes the most desired features (two)
• The splash pad includes interactive features (three)
• There is a good integration of natural elements (five)
• The design encourages family activities (five)
• There are enough seating options throughout (two)
• I like the location of the play and splash pad areas (five)
• I like the theme and style of the playground features (two)
• I like the theme and types of water features (two)

Community Engagement Phase 3: Communicating the Direction

In this phase of community engagement, the final design for the new playground and splash pad will be shared with the community and Community Resource Group (CRG) on this page and with those subscribed to the project mailing list. The project will then move into the detail design phase, where the design team will work through the technical details and developing detailed plans and drawings to be used by the construction contractor.