“Kids, when you want to play with your food, get your folks to bring you on down to St. James Park.”
~ play advocate Alex Smith
The market-themed playground was designed by PMA Landscape in collaboration with Earthscape, who won a Landscape Ontario Award in January 2019 for the playground structure. The vision for the playground was to create a custom, heritage-themed and sculptural playground that integrates natural materials and to animate an under-used area of the park.
Features about the playground of interest to parents:
- While the design adheres to current safety standards to reduce hazards, studies have shown that healthy development includes learning one’s limits and successfully taking risks, therefore some elements introduce risk, such as the asparagus climbers and the merry-go-round.
- Each element in the playground is age- appropriate labelled for city safety requirements. Elements are purposely spread out to encourage kids to run from one piece to another.
- The largest and most central feature of the play structure is the tower made of stacked farmer’s baskets. As a child revisits the park, they may reach a higher level over time, finally making it to the top for a view over the park.
- The wood cladding on the tower is Accoya, a type of pine that is preserved in vinegar (non-toxic) making it impervious to temperature changes; it does not shrink or swell. The stains are water-based with no preservatives.
- Stainless steel is the preferred material for slides. It faces north to minimize sun and heat exposure and the trees along Jarvis will eventually create shade cover.
- A small water-play area provides accessible, interactive play features for all ages. The water spray and mister are push button operated and have a run time of 45 seconds.
- The playground is designed for kids of all abilities (it is AODA compliant). Accessible features include a swing and a ramp to one of the raised platforms. The ice-cream cone and market stall structures are also designed to be accessible by those using mobility devices, as is the picnic table. The rubber surface material and “wood” chips are also approved for mobility device use.
- We love dogs, but not in the playground! Kids need a healthy place to play in the grass and no one wants them playing where dogs have done their business! Please keep dogs away from the grassy playground areas.