Stadacona Park Playground Replacement
Stadacona Park Playground is now open. Thank you for helping to shape the Stadacona Park playground design to provide fun and engaging play experiences for all ages and abilities for years to come.
The City of Victoria has developed a new playground to replace the existing playground in Stadacona Park. View the proposed design that the community was invited to provide feedback on in summer 2021.
What we engaged on
The plan included relocating the playground to an area of the park with improved sightlines to create a localized activity hub, and providing an opportunity to better integrate the playground with the surrounding natural areas that encompass the majority of Stadacona Park.
Goals for the playground were based on guidance from the Parks and Open Spaces Master Plan, best practices in playground design and construction, and international guidelines for creating inclusive play spaces.
The project goals included:
1. Create an inclusive and accessible playground
2. Design fun and engaging play spaces
3. Enhance natural areas and ecosystems
Play is an essential part of learning and development. Through a thoughtful selection of equipment and layout, opportunities range from adventurous to quiet, creative, and imaginative to respond to the various ways children play. In addition, amenities such as seating and picnic tables, shade trees, and access to washrooms and drinking water make this a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Connections from pathways to play surfaces create barrier-free access for children with mobility challenges. The proposed design contains barrier-free, resilient surfacing and provides ample space between elements for easy access by all ages and abilities.
Proposed features included a tall tower, a small tower, swings, climbers, in-ground trampolines, spinners and springers, as well as natural elements with boulders and variable-height log step edging. This bright, colourful playground will be unique to Stadacona Park and is designed to spark imagination and encourage creative play.
The playground is proposed to move to a new location next to a wide greenspace, mature trees, and garden beds. The new central location is also within sight of the sport courts and will create an activity hub within the park which is well connected to the City’s cycling network and public transit.
Community feedback will inform the final playground design. The playground is expected to be constructed and completed in 2023.
How we got here
Stadacona Park is the largest park in the Fernwood neighbourhood. The park is also within close walking distance of the North Jubilee, South Jubilee and Rockland neighbourhoods.
Stadacona Park is a popular greenspace with large mature trees, garden beds, open lawn areas and meandering paths. The park offers amenities including recently refurbished sport courts, public washrooms and a playground. The existing playground was constructed in 1995 and is due for replacement.
Much of Stadacona Park consists of a provincially designated Sensitive Ecosystem Inventory (SEI) area. The designation was made in 1993 as part of the first SEI to occur in British Columbia and was intended to support sustainable land use decisions and encourage wildlife conservation.
This project is part of the City's annual park infrastructure renewal program. The City will invest $600,000 to develop an inclusive and accessible playground that will have the highest play value for children of all ages and abilities.
What is the level of public participation?
Involve
How was input sought?
In addition to public input through a survey, park pop-up events, and feedback from children, the City invited input from neighbourhood associations representing residents in Fernwood, Rockland, South Jubilee and North Jubilee. Community feedback will inform the final playground design. To stay informed, subscribe for project updates.
Closing the loop
Thank you to everyone who had their say on the proposed Stadacona Park playground design. A total of 123 people completed the online survey and we enjoyed discussing the project with many people at park pop-up events and other engagement opportunities. Please view the engagement summary report and survey results for details.