The Whole World is Our Playground: Sherbourne Common

I came across the recommendation to visit this park/playground in the now defunct Grid Magazine's article Kid's A-Z Guide To Summer and decided to give it a try. I feel slightly betrayed with no real repercussions other than waiting until I run into former editor Edward Keenan in my neighbourhood and shaking my fist at him in rage. 

My park review disclaimer: If you don't live in the area I hope you enjoy the pics and can use some of the ideas to inspire and explore in your own city. If you have any recommendations for great playgrounds (or new criteria I haven't thought of) please post a comment on this post or email me.

Park Name:

Sherbourne Common - 61 Dockside Drive. 

Parking:

 There is a variety of parking connected to the playground, Sugar Beach and George Brown College.  It will cost you a minimum of $3-4 per half hour to park there.  The parking lot also apparently doubles as a garbage dump as you can see by the photo below.  Alternately, you can take the Sherbourne bus there as it turns around right outside the playground.

Immaculate Parking Facility

Theme of Park:

Grid Magazine described it as, "an acclaimed four-year old park with modern aesthetic and curvaceous waterway that don't offer much in the way of a traditional playground, but the kids are still fans." I would call it a post-apocalyptic playground that has a Clockwork Orange / 1984 feel to it.  Be on the lookout for Zombies and/or Big Brother.

All by myself - the swing-set of solitude.

Climbing structure(ish)

Ground Coverage:

Concrete and large pits of gravel acting as moats around the play area making it near impossible to navigate with a stroller.  Absolutely no shade.

Variety of Equipment for different ages:

 This park has minimal equipment for the kids to play on.  The entire time we were there Molly asked me, "When are we going to the park?" There were no other kids at the park the entire time we were there.

Most honest advertisement ever...

Best Parts of the Park:

If you love modern art and garbage and hate children, this is the playground for you.  Molly and Jack enjoyed the modern spinner and splash/pad fountain minimally, but got bored quickly.

Downfalls:

 This is a playground designed by someone who knows nothing about children.  There are no fences anywhere around the "playground equipment" and it would be really easy to rush onto the road - this is particularly dangerous with the bus loop nearby.

Overall Rating:

This is a prime example of how disappointing Toronto's waterfront can be. I can only imagine the amount of money that was put into building this playground and the "playable art".  I actually apologized to my children for taking them there. I rate this park 0.5/5.

To read my review of Charles G. Williams park click here

To read my review of Jean Sibelius Square click here

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