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 .
Park Name:
Wychwood Barns
76 Wychwood Ave, Toronto, ON M6G 4C6 (Christie and St. Clair)
Parking:
This park has a lot of local street parking and is also steps away from the 126 bus out of Christie Station or the St. Clair Streetcar line.
Theme of Park:
An artistic mix of urban agriculture and play in the city.
Ground Coverage:
Primarily cement and sand with a sprinkling of trees and planters.
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| The canoe herb garden |
Variety of Equipment for different ages:
This playground is a toddler and preschoolers dream. There are small structures and a splash pad that sprays (no wading pool). There are swings, small climbers, and a big sandbox with a tap in the middle for making castles and mud pies, all without the worry of big kids taking over the equipment from the toddlers.
Best Parts of the Park:
This playground is clearly a big part of the local community. On Saturdays parents can enjoy a farmer's market in addition to playing, this also makes snacking easy. The connection to Artscapes has the area aspiring to be a cultural hub, so there art galleries open within Wychwood Barns, so people can take a break from play and check out an exhibit if they like. The splash pad is great for little ones who want to run through the sprinkler gauntlet, operate a spray gun, and jump in puddles around the floor sprayers. There is a washroom available for kid use.
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| Toddler sized play structure, ideal for tiny hands and feet |
Downfalls:
There is very little shade cover. The sandbox and one or two highly coveted benches are the only reprieve from the summer scorch, so bring your sunscreen and a hat. This park is really good for kids five and under, but older kids would get bored quickly, particularly if you attended on a day when there weren't the distractions of the farmers market.
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| Ready, aim... |
Overall Rating:
I would rate this park a 3 out of 5. I'm glad we caught this playground this year, before Molly and Jack are too old to enjoy it, but I don't think I'd be back unless I was local or was also going with my primary activity centring around the farmer's market and/or to see an exhibit. Don't get me wrong, if you're nearby and you have a little one who loves to splash and jump in puddles, this is a great spot for them to visit free from worry of the dangers of a wading pool! The kids had a good time, Molly said her favourite part was building castles in the sand and Jack said the best part was spraying daddy with the splash pad water shooter/ laser.
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