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Durham region
​playground reviews

Horne Park

7/12/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Area: Northwest Ajax

Age Range: infant and up

Parking:  some street parking on Horne Ave

Ground Cover: sand

Main Equipment:
  • 5 slides (2 metal ones on the larger play structure)
  • 4 swings
  • 2 infant swings
  • 2 teeter rockers (one whale, one atv)
  • 1 climbing rope
  • 1 rock climbing wall
  • 1 fireman pole
  • 1 playhouse mansion (that's two small houses put together)

Accessibility Features: talking tubes in the sand of the larger play structure area (so not very wheelchair accessible with the sand)

Facilities/Other:
  • Horne Park Splash Pad

Surrounding Park Area: A small green space around the playground, and a small field behind the splash pad

Seating: 1 picnic bench in the shade pavilion behind the toddler playhouses, three curved benches facing the playgrounds closest to the infant swings

Shade: none over the larger playground, some late afternoon shade over the smaller playground playhouses, and a lot of shade in the surrounding trees

Overall assessment: A great park for multiple ages. The playground mansion (because it is the largest park playhouse we have ever seen) is perfect for toddlers and younger kids. The sand in the toddler playground area is finer and has less rocks than the larger playground side (we suspect it had a fresh dump of new sand this year) and with the new splash pad right next to it, makes the perfect combination for sandcastle building when the kids are tired of sliding, swinging or climbing. It's a great local park and has amazing grassy shaded areas in the trees for picnics too! I just wish there was a seasonal washroom here when we visited....maybe next year?
0 Comments

Terry Fox Park

9/21/2017

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Area: Central Ajax

Age Range: infant to 10 years

Parking:  
Weekends - plenty in the Terry Fox Public School parking lot on Kerrison Dr & Fletcher Ave
Weekdays - limited street parking off View Street or Monk Cres (closest to the playground)

Ground Cover: mulch 

Main Equipment:
  • 7 slides
  • 2 swings
  • 2 infant swings
  • 2 firepoles
  • talking tubes
  • 2 ground level activity stations
  • multiple monkey bars

Accessibility features: 2 activity stations. talking tubes

Facilities/Other:
  • soccer field

Surrounding Park Area: A paved walking path weaving through the school's field and access to side streets

Seating: 1 park bench facing the smaller play structure, 3 park benches facing the green space behind the park (north of theschool)

Shade: no shade over the playground, plenty in the surrounding trees

Overall assessment: This is a great park to go to for the green space behind it! Since it's neither a soccer pitch or softball field, you can use it for pretty much any games or activities (think kite flying). There are two good sized play structures at this park too to make for a great game of tag or hide and go seek. Do you think seven slides are enough to keep your kids happy? That's right 7 slides!!
0 Comments

Avondale Park

8/31/2017

2 Comments

 
Picture
Area: East Courtice

Age Range: 18 months and up

Parking:  some street parking on Avondale Drive

Ground Cover: mulch

Main Equipment:
  • 5 slides
  • 2 swings
  • 2 infant swings
  • 1 rock climbing wall
  • 2 fireman poles (1 is toddler sized!)
  • 1 standing spinner
  • 1 sitting spinner

Accessibility Features: sitting spinner, talking tubes

Facilities/Other:
  • Splash Pad 
  • 2 Tennis Courts

Surrounding Park Area: A green space with a circle of sitting boulders between the playground and tennis courts

Seating: 1 park bench facing the playground by the larger play structure, 4 park benches under the shade structure, rounded hills of interlock bricks along the playground fence, and sitting boulder area beside the playground

Shade: none over the playground itself, but some over the interlock hill from the surrounding trees, shade structure over 4 park benches, and surrounding tree shade behind the playground

Overall assessment: We like that there is a fence along the back of the playground that runs along Avondale Drive so it's easier to watch running toddlers at this park. When we visited the smaller play structure tube connecting both halves was not there (we assumed damaged and was removed for safety) but each half still had climbers or stairs and a slide so it was fun to explore and use. The best part about the toddler play structure was the miniature firepole! Our preschooler knew exactly what to do and dared to approach and reach out all on her own to slide down it (see video below). The interlock hill along the fence of the playground reminded us of parks we visited in Japan because it had many toddlers crawling up and exploring balance on the bumpy surface. This is a great park to spend a picnic at because of the adjacent soft surfaced splash pad.
2 Comments

Greenfield Park

8/25/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Area: East Whitby

Age Range: 18 months and up
​
Parking: limited street parking on Greenfield Crescent (although we did park at the Passport Office building and walked over)

Ground Cover:  sand

Main Equipment:
  • 3 slides 
  • 1 swing
  • 1 infant swing
  • 1 sand scoop digger
  • 1 stationary car climber
  • multiple climbing apparatus

Accessibility Features: none

Facilities/Other:
  • none

Surrounding Park Area: a small green space behind the playground 

Seating: 1 park bench facing the play structure (not the swings)

Shade: no shade over the playground, some shade in the surrounding trees


Overall assessment: A hidden neighborhood park that is perfect for the kids to burn off some steam. If you have someone who loves to dig sand, this is a good spot to go to! We greatly appreciated the fact that this park is literally right behind the Whitby Passport office (in case someone has to go there and there is a looooong boring wait for the kids).
0 Comments

Kirby Park

8/24/2017

2 Comments

 
Picture
Area: East Whitby

Age Range: infant and up
​
Parking: street parking on Kirby Crescent

Ground Cover:  mulch

Main Equipment:
  • 4 slides (1 is a toddler slide)
  • 2 swings
  • 1 infant swing
  • 1 bucket swing
  • 1 saucer swing
  • fireman pole
  • 1 music station (see video below!)
  • 1 mulch 'kitchen' station (must see the video below!)
  • 1 car track (built into the toddler play structure) 
  • multiple climbing apparatus

Accessibility Features: bucket swing, saucer swing, toddler music station, toddler mulch station

Facilities/Other:
  • 1 softball diamond
  • seasonal washroom (a portable beside the softball diamond about a 2-5 minute walk away from the playground)

Surrounding Park Area: a small green space behind the playground with a trail leading to the softball diamond and seasonal portable washroom

Seating: 3 park benches facing the playground (NOT there when we visited August 2017, but the foundations for them have been poured), plus concrete wall with built in seating facing the larger play structure

Shade: no shade over the playground, plenty of shade in the surrounding trees


Overall assessment: The toddler structure here is AMAZING! There are so many hidden features that we loved taking our time to explore them all. Bring your car or ball to this park as there is a hidden track around the top of the toddler structure that you can drive or roll things along! We have included two videos below, but the rest of the features of this small play structure you will have to explore on your own. The bigger play structure is great for climbing, hanging and balancing. The tall slide with bumps was a huge hit for our preschooler (although a little tough to get to as there is only one ladder type climber and some toddlers will find it difficult). With a seasonal washroom just a short walk away, this is a good park to spend a couple of hours exploring and we will definitely be back to show off the toddler structure to our friends!
2 Comments
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Durham Region Playground Reviews

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  • Long Live Outdoor Play
    • FAQ
    • Favourite Links
    • About Me, Jennifer
    • About Valerie
  • Our Reviews
    • Playground Reviews >
      • Top 10 Infant & Toddler Friendly Playgrounds
      • Top 10 Accessible Playgrounds
      • Top 10 Parks with Shade
      • Canada's 150 coolest playgrounds
    • Splash Pad Reviews >
      • Top 10 Splash Pads
    • Skateparks
    • Indoor Play Reviews
    • Ontario Ice Cream Shops
  • Maps
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