The Whole World Is Our Playground: Playground Review Humbertown Park

I saw this newly built park on my way back from running errands and knew we needed to check it out before the snow flies. They were literally putting on the finishing touches and sanding the equipment while we played, it's that brand new!  While it always disappointments me when a new playground pops up moments before playground season comes to an end (this one was supposed to open Labour Day weekend), I'm still happy that another green space where I can walk my dog and play with my kids has come to our general area.

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 at multiplemomstrosity @ gmail.com

Exploring some of the structures

Park Name: 

Humbertown Park (Royal York & Dundas - 7 Wimbleton Road)

Parking:

There is some very limited free parking right beside the park, but there won't be a lot available in the summer once word gets out.  It's also steps away from the 40 Junction-Dundas West Bus stop which runs out of Kipling and Dundas West Station.

Theme of Park:

If IKEA and Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds worked together they would build this playground.

Balance beams and slides

Ground Coverage:
The playground has some shade coverage, soft wood chips and some rubberized landing areas to cushion any kid related falls, along with wide expanses of grass to play on.

Variety of Equipment for different ages:
Most equipment is designed for older kids (think age seven to eight and up unless your children are better, more confident climbers than mine are), but there are some slides (including some unusual ones), balance beams, spinners, and swings available to meet the needs of kids any age. There is a water fountain, but no bathroom or splash equipment.  

Kids enjoying the park before the storm came in

Best Parts of the Park:
The climbing equipment is amazing.  There is so much to do here.  The imagined 'ship' was Jack's favourite part of the structures, while Molly liked the balance beams to challenge her dad. There is a soccer field with bleachersjust below as well as rocks, and some accessible swing equipment. This park has all of the excitement of Jamie Bell playground but much better sight lines for parents who don't need to worry about losing their kids in the labyrinth or equipment.  Because the park is open I was able to take our dog for a walk around the park several times and still see the kids at all times.  

Another perspective of the climbers and slides

How Long My Kids Stayed to Play:

The kids played for about 45 minutes and would have stayed longer, but as you can see from my photos a storm was coming in and we had to leave.  There is a grocery store and some restaurants nearby on Dundas Street for anyone who would want to picnic here. Oh, and I forgot to mention - there is an outdoor ping pong table here as well!

Downfalls:
In the warmer weather I could see shade coverage being an issue (although the park plans posted on YouTube  show trees within the playground which may not have been planted yet or had lost all of their leaves). A public washroom or even port-o-john would make this park even better, as would additional parking.

Overall Rating:

I would rate this playground a 4.5 out of 5, particularly because this is one of the few playgrounds my kids can 'grow into' instead of age out of.  There is still plenty for little kids to do there too.  We will be back soon!

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The Whole World Is Our Playground: Playground Review Lora Hill Park

I can't believe it's been six months since we explored a new playground, and we couldn't wait for spring to come so we could start exploring again.  That's why we have visits to three new  on our seasonal bucket list.

We were headed to Oakville for some Easter Egg hunting with the cousins and grandparents and decided we should enjoy the weather and blow off some steam first.  Lora Hill was en route to the highway and had received solid online reviews from other people in the area so we decided to go and check it out.

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 at multiplemomstrosity @ gmail.com .

Big slides at Lora Hill Park

Park Name:

Lora Hill Park

Islington and Norseman (36 Fernalroy Avenue)

Parking:

There is free street parking on the streets around the park, with more available on weekends.  The park is a 17 minute walk from Islington subway station.

Theme of Park:

Modern playground with something for people of any age. 

Ground Coverage:

The playground is surrounded by grass and has sand around the majority of the equipment.

The mini climber and slide designed for kids 18 months to 5 years old

Variety of Equipment for different ages:

This playground caters to everyone.  Not only are there two different main play structure areas, one for little kids and one for bigger kids, but there is also a tennis court right beside the playground so older kids or adults with kids who are big enough to play more independently could take in a game while the little ones play.

Best Parts of the Park:

The set up of this park is great.  Everyone has been considered.  It is easy to supervise kids in multiple structures, even from the tennis courts which are excellently maintained.  There are trees all around to provide shade coverage in hot summer months.  There are covered areas for the sandboxes and some covered benches so a sprinkle of rain, or parent who wants a shady retreat can sit without a sunburn.  There are also some picnic benches.

Racing up "the mountain" to the big kid structure

Downfalls:

There are a number of abandoned toys in this park in bad repair.  Molly wanted to ride in a toy car, but two of its wheels were missing and it tipped over, this could be particularly dangerous for little ones who aren't going to watch for sharp edges on broken plastic etc.

Racing to the top of the triangle climber

Overall Rating:

I would rate this playground a 4.5 out of 5.  Chris and I really want to go back to try a game of tennis while the kids play.  Molly's favourite item in the park was the triangle climber that we all raced up and down several times.  Jack loved the big slides.  I have to admit these are the tallest slides I've ever seen at a park, and they were pretty cool, aside from a bit of static.  We will definitely return!

To view my playground review of the playground with the boat (Vermont Square) click here.

To view my playground review of Pricefield Road Playground click here.

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Release Me

When I was a little kid I spent a lot of time at local playgrounds climbing, playing and exploring.  By the time I was 11 or 12 that stopped being cool, so I spent time "hanging out" at the playground with my friends while we giggled and pretended to watch our middle school crushes play baseball.*  By high school it became somewhere to loiter before curfew when there was nothing else to do at 10pm at night in Etobicoke.**

Somewhere around the time that I entered the world of university (i.e. was legal to drink) playgrounds disappeared from my world.  Fast forward 10 years to when Chris and I were house hunting.  We were immediately charmed by the little parkette on the street where we eventually bought our house.  Maybe it was my 30 year old womb whispering to me, but something about this quaint little park filled with a sand box and toys made me feel like this would be a great home for starting a family.

Now that the minions are full fledged toddlers we spend a lot of time exploring local playgrounds and since my sabbatical from climbers I've noticed a major change*** in playgrounds.  Some time over the past 15 years or so, at least in the city of Toronto, playgrounds have become old toy recycling depots/ dumping grounds.


Most play areas we go to feature climbing structures as well as well weathered and pre-loved dump trucks, buckets, cars and other abandoned treats.  Sometimes it's as if we've stumbled into the island of lost toys.  So far, for the most part this provides extra activities to occupy toddler hands while momma sips on her latte, however there are also some issues:

• Because there is a glut of abandoned goods my children think that any toys on the playground are fair game and will steal toys from children who have genuinely brought their own personal property to the park.****
• Some of these toys are getting pretty gross and rotten from the rain.  I often wonder if there is some sort of rule about responsible parents throwing out rotting plastic toys at the park.  I have now decided that I will actively pursue and throw out sharp spikey weapons created by shards of plastic from deserted toys.
• Goodwill called, they want to know where all of their toy donations went.

Any other thoughts on the evolution of playground into toy graveyard, junkyard?

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*Grade 7's answer to Zack Morris, I'm talking about you.
**Where else are you going to make out with your grade 10 boyfriend if both of you don't have your driver's licenses yet?
***Beyond the rubberized anti-Darwinism floors to protect soft children skulls.
****They're also toddlers, so this "mine" game might happen anyway.