Ferrand Drive Park Playground Improvements & New Splash Pad

The City is improving the playground and adding a splash pad in Ferrand Drive Park. The playground improvements are part of an ongoing program to enhance playgrounds and play spaces across the city.

  • Winter to Spring 2025: Hire a design team
  • Summer 2025: Design development
  • Fall 2025: Community engagement
  • Fall 2025 to Winter 2026: Detailed design
  • Spring 2026: Hire a construction team
  • Summer 2026: Construction starts, playground closes
  • Fall 2026: Construction complete, new playground and splash pad open

The timeline is subject to change.

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November 2025

Online Survey

From September 26 to November 10, feedback on multiple playground and splash pad design options was collected in an online survey. The survey was promoted through paid social media ads, word of mouth, park signs, the project web page and outreach through the local Councillor’s office. The survey received 252 responses.

The design team will use this feedback to refine the final playground and splash pad design. The final design will be available on this page.

Feedback Summary

When asked to rank their playground design preference, respondents ranked Playground Design A highest (44 per cent), followed by Playground Design B (34 per cent) and Playground Design C (22 per cent).

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

  • senior play structure for ages five to 12 (43 per cent)
  • junior play structure for ages two to five (42 per cent)
  • climbing structures (41 per cent)

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

  • play panels (33 per cent)
  • stand-alone toys (28 per cent)
  • group/accessible swing (24 per cent)

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

  • climbing structures (38 per cent)
  • motion toys (35 per cent)
  • senior play structure for ages five to 12 (29 per cent)

For seating around the playground:

  • 74 per cent of respondents like Picnic Tables
  • 72 per cent of respondents like Benches
  • 28 per cent of respondents like Armour Stones

The preferred colour scheme for the new playground was:

  • bright colours, like yellow, orange and purple (53 per cent)
  • earthy colours like green, brown and grey (18 per cent)

When asked to rank their splash pad design preference, respondents ranked Splash Pad Design A highest (60 per cent), followed by Splash Pad Design B (40 per cent).

The preferred colour scheme for the new splash pad was:

  • bright colours, like yellow, orange and purple (63 per cent)
  • neutral colours with a pop of highlight colour, like white, black, and turquoise (16 per cent)
  • earthy colours like green, brown and grey (12 per cent)
  • no preference (nine per cent)

In-Person Pop-Up Event

On November 6, the project team collected community feedback on multiple design options for the playground improvements at a pop-up event in Dennis R Timbrell Resource and Community Centre. Approximately 84 community members attended the event.

Participants shared their preferences with sticky dots and comments on sticky notes. Two members of the project team provided information, answered questions and captured additional comments. The local Councillor also attended the event.

The design team will use this feedback to refine the final playground and splash pad design.

Feedback Summary

Participants preferred Playground Design A (23 dots), followed by Playground Design C (22 dots) and Playground Design B (18 dots).

Participants preferred Splash Pad Design A (55 dots), followed by Splash Pad Design B (seven dots)

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

  • senior play structure for ages five to 12 (eight dots)
  • spiral slide (seven dots)
  • Belt swings (six dots)
  • Group/accessible swing (six dots)

Participants shared that the three least important features to include in the new playground are:

  • junior play structure for ages two to five (two dots)
  • play panels (two dots)
  • spiral slide (one dot)
  • double Slide (one dot)
  • climbing structures (one dot)

For seating around the playground and splash pad:

  • 13 participants liked benches
  • 10 participants liked picnic tables
  • 6 participants liked concrete seat wall
  • 1 participant liked armourstone seat wall

Participant suggestions included adding a rubberized surface, providing a drinking fountain (with a pet bowl/tray), adding more swings and benches, incorporating better pathway lighting, and ensuring features for older children, such as rope climbers.

Virtual Public Meeting

On November 3, a virtual public meeting shared project details and presented playground and splash pad design options. Three community members attended the event.

A community member asked if benches would be added. The project team explained that seating is planned, but the number will depend on the project budget.

A community member asked if a fountain, sandbox or public washroom was being considered in the design. The project team explained that these features are out of scope for this project.

A community member asked whether the final playground option would be determined by the majority of votes in the survey. The project team said the results will reflect overall community preferences, balancing majority responses with individual feedback. When responses are closely divided, further analysis of qualitative input will guide the final decision.

Playground Design 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.

Option A

Playground Option A rendering highlighting slides, climbers and accessible features. The swing set and seating areas are visible in the background with children engaged in play.

Design A includes:

  • One junior play structure for ages 18 months to five years, with:
    • five slides: three straight slides, two curvy slides
    • three climbing features
    • play counter with imaginative and social play features
    • one hammock
    • one telescope
    • one steering wheel
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12, with:
    • two curvy slides
    • three climbing options
    • accessible climber
  • Standalone play features:
    • two spinners
    • one spring rider
  • One swing set, with:
    • two belt swings
    • one bucket swing
    • one accessible swing
Option B

Playground Option B rendering with two large play structures featuring slides, climbing elements, and monkey bars. A swing set with belt and toddler seats is included, with children playing throughout.

Design B includes:

  • One junior play structure for ages 18 months to five years, with:
    • one wavy slide
    • two climbers
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 years, with:
    • three slides: one straight slide, two wavy slides
    • eight climbers
    • two overhead features: one trapezoid overhead and one horizontal ladder
    • one sensory panel interactive panels
  • Standalone play components:
    • three spinners
    • one group spinner
    • six stepping pods
  • One swing set, with:
    • two belt swings
    • one bucket swing
    • one accessible swing
Option C

Playground Option C rendering

Design C includes:

  • One junior play structure for ages 18 months to five years, with:
    • two straight slides
    • two climbers
    • three sensory play panels
  • One senior play structure for ages five to 12 years, with:
    • two slides: one wavy and one curvy
    • three climbers
    • five play panels
  • Ground Level Accessible Play:
    • two panels
    • Standalone Play Components:
    • one multi-user spinner
    • one see-saw
    • one hammock
  • One swing set, with:
    • two belt swings
    • one bucket swing
    • one accessible swing

Splash Pad Design Options

Option A

Splash Pad Design A for Ferrand Drive Park. From front-left to back-right: spray activator posts, orange spray loop, ground jets, and tall flower spray feature.

Design A includes:

  • two bollard activators, push-button posts that children press to activate the water features.
  • two water blooms, tall flower-shaped structures that spray water outward in a gentle arc.
  • two jet streams, ground-level jets that shoot narrow streams of water into the air.
  • five fountain sprays, upright nozzles that create soft dome-like sprays for interactive play.
  • two spray loops, arched rings that spray water inward, encouraging children to run through.
  • one helicopter sprayer, a twisting feature that sends spiralling streams of water in multiple directions.
  • two tube sprayers, tubular water elements that shoot water outward for group play.
  • one dynamic feature (large): a tall spray element that releases water in varied patterns.
  • one dynamic feature (small), a lower spray element with gentle jets for toddlers.
Option B

Splash Pad Design B for Ferrand Drive Park. From left to right: tube sprayer, Helicopter Birds feature, single leaf sprayer, spray loop, and snail sprayer.

Design B includes:

  • two bollard activators, push-button posts that children press to activate the water features.
  • two water blooms, tall flower-shaped features that spray water outward in a gentle arc.
  • two directional jets, ground-level jets that shoot angled water streams for interactive play.
  • two geysers: bursting ground sprays that create vertical water plumes.
  • one helicopter birds sprayer, a twisting bird-shaped feature that sends spiralling water sprays in multiple directions.
  • three jet streams, upright nozzles that shoot narrow streams of water upward.
  • one single leaf sprayer, a tall, leaf-shaped element that sprays water downward in a fan pattern.
  • one snail feature, a low, snail-shaped sprayer with playful water streams for toddlers.
  • one spray loop, a circular ring that sprays water inward, encouraging children to run through.
  • two tube sprayers, tubular features that spray outward streams of water for group play.

The playground and splash pad will be designed using community feedback. The playground is located at the northeast area of the park and currently includes:

  • one swing set with two toddler swings and two belt swings
  • a play structure with:
    • a small double slide
    • a small curved slide
    • one bridge
    • one tunnel and tubes
    • one overhead climbing option
    • two play panels
  • 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
  • seating improvements
  • engineered wood fibre surfacing
  • an accessible pathway to the playground area

The play equipment and pathway connecting to the playground area will comply with AODA. Learn more about how playgrounds are made accessible.