Municipal Playground Renewal Takes Another Step Forward

Jul 3, 2019

The sound of laughter will soon fill the air in neighbourhoods across Greater Sudbury as the renewal of 58 municipal playgrounds takes another step forward with the Imagine Project, a United Way Centraide North East Ontario/ Nord-est de l’Ontario supported initiative aimed at providing accessible and barrier-free play options for children.

“Play is a key factor in positive human development,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger. “Taking kids to the playground is not only a fun thing to do, it’s a cornerstone of population health. Council is investing in the renewal of municipal playgrounds because our children need and deserve outdoor play spaces that are safe, accessible and engaging for all ages.”

The City of Greater Sudbury has selected 15 locations for investment in 2019. This brings the total to 27 municipal playgrounds that have either undergone or are scheduled to receive new play structures, landscaping and other enhancements.

“UWCNEO believes in a community where all children have opportunities to reach their potential,” said Michael Cullen, Executive Director with UWCNEO. “Playgrounds are community resources that provide children with an ideal environment to develop their social, physical and cognitive skills.”

The City of Greater Sudbury recently hosted Neighbourhood Huddle open houses at each of the 15 playgrounds scheduled for renewal this year to ask residents about their preferences for new play structures, landscaping and design.

The following 15 municipal playgrounds have been selected for renewal in 2019. When determining which playground to renew in a given year, the city looks at each neighbourhood for socio-economic factors, degree of equipment deterioration, proximity to parkland and recommendations of the Parks, Open Space and Leisure Master Plan review.

  • Algoma Tot Lot, Main St. East, Chelmsford
  • Birch Tot Lot, 2450 Birch St., Azilda
  • Catherine Park, Catherine Dr., Garson
  • Cedar Park Playground, 47 Normandy Crt., Sudbury
  • Columbus Tot Lot, Melvin Ave., Sudbury
  • Doug Mohns Sports Complex, 100 Field St., Capreol
  • Eyre Playground, 243 Ferndale Ave., Sudbury
  • MacMillan Tot Lot, MacMillan Dr., Val Caron
  • Meatbird Lake Tot Lot, 785 Municipal Road 24, Lively
  • Participation Tot Lot, Byng St., Sudbury
  • Paquette Tot Lot, Paquette St., Sudbury
  • Queen’s Athletic Sports Complex, 30 Cypress St., Sudbury
  • Ravine Park, 10 Primrose Dr., Garson
  • Ray Street Tot Lot, Ray St., Wahnapitae
  • Russell Beaudry Playground, 10 Juniper Ave., Onaping

The following 12 municipal playgrounds were scheduled for renewal in 2018. Five were installed prior to the onset of winter. The remaining seven are now complete and ready for play.

•    Coté Park, 215 Edward Ave., Chelmsford
•    East St. Tot Lot, East St., Coniston
•    Hillcrest Playground, Hillcrest Crescent., Sudbury
•    Howard Armstrong Sports Complex, 4040 Elmview Dr., Hanmer
•    Lakeview Playground, 420 Sunday St., Sudbury
•    Lonsdale Playground, 811 Lonsdale Ave., Sudbury
•    Penman Park, Penman Ave., Garson
•    Pinecrest Tot Lot, Swanson Court, Val Caron
•    Place Hurtubise Playground, 1966 LaSalle Blvd., Sudbury
•    Selkirk Park, Selkirk St., Sudbury
•    Sixth Ave. Playground, 2015 Sixth Ave., Lively
•    St. Joseph Playground, St. Joseph St., Sudbury
 

-30-