The unique tire bridge is the main attraction here at Cartier Park playground. It provides a balancing act for kids as it sways and jiggles with every careful step. Although the tires are suspended by chains, they’re also anchored to the ground, similar to those balance poles found at other playgrounds. My 5 year old is a cautious one, so it was a precarious and slow but triumphant journey across the tire walkway. It was fun just sitting on a tire for a swing and a rest as well.

There’s a lot to enjoy around Renfrew Community Centre, such as the aquatic centre, library, dog park and wooded ravine. Our focus for this post is the playground on the north side of the community centre in Renfrew Community Park.

The playground is divided into four distinct sections – the main play structure, the toddler structure, the swing sets and wading pool. As always, it is great that the swings are off to the side so that kids are not accidentally smoked in the head by a soaring child. 

Sahali Park playground comes with a crow. Sometimes two. Can you spot them in the photos? We didn’t test the equipment out in case the crows were territorial but they stayed perched either here or the electrical wires near the community garden with the pigeons. Is it called a murder flock if a bunch of crows and pigeons hang out?

This playground is actually located at the top of the slope and across the street from Falaise Park, making it slightly confusing if one were to make a playdate without knowing this tidbit. Otherwise, this colourful playground is divided into two play areas with plenty to do for different ages.

A fun feature at Falaise Park is the wooden truck with a large roof and four steering wheels. In the same area is a bubbly plastic play structure with arched rooftops, multiple slides, windows and a broken gear panel. In the same area is a freestanding monkey bar component and an additional wall of three yellow, window play panels. 

The second area features a larger structure with things like ziptracks, monkey bars, sliding poles, a climbing wall and a wooden bridge. There’s also a twirly slide and other types of climbers. Off to the side is a swing set.

This second structure feels less sturdy with old wooden floor panels, compared to the other one that has platforms made from solid metal. This area uses pea gravel for the ground while the area with the toddler structure uses gravely sand.

Like most playgrounds, there are shady trees near the perimeter but both playgrounds here are in full sun, making some slides and elements hot to the touch. During the summertime the wading pool can provide relief from the heat.

Lastly, the fieldhouse has been upgraded to be universally accessible and includes a “wave to open” sensor for opening the door. This automation, although providing accessibility, can also be a curse for those with kids that like to play with technology. A simple wave of the hand enables them to easily unlock and auto-open the door during one’s mid-pee. 

I saw this happen elsewhere to someone, so I made sure not to go when my kids were with me. But with that said, it easily could have been me if I didn’t know! We should probably request these things have a child-lock so parents don’t have to deal with such unfortunate circumstances. Redesign please!

Similar to other playgrounds that are dedicated to preschools, this one is available after hours and is fully fenced. It’s part of the Hillcrest Community Centre and is located on the same side as the Terry Salman Library entrance. 

The sand area with a pergola is quite large and right next to a small playhouse that’s similar to the one at Rosemary Brown or Khorana Park. On the other side is a play structure with a slide and signature Kompan components like telescope, megaphone, spinning paddle wheel and joystick.

A wide, bench-like seesaw welcomes multiple riders. Take note that one side has a back and large foot rest to provide extra security for younger kids while they ride.

There are other natural aspects to appreciate too, as one side of the playground is a grassy hill for climbing. One can let their child explore the perimeter and walk through some vegetation with no extra worries as the play area is fully fenced. Natural logs and inset stones, as well as a cute little wooden bridge either add to the space or is a tripping hazard, depending on who you ask.

Unique sewer covers with a lattice design surrounded by a stone patterned ground. There’s a shed off to the side that provides a small covered area as well.

Although this playground is fully fenced, there are two gates that people tend to leave open from time to time. Both don’t lead to a high traffic areas, but it’s unfortunate to have to keep an eye on gates that should be kept closed

Beaconsfield Park is one of three new playgrounds that have reopened to the public in July 2021. The main feature here is the climbing rope dome that we’ve seen a handful of times at playgrounds such as Trout Lake and Nobel Park. Inside this web of ropes is a vinyl mat and plastic seat, a rope ladder, sliding pole and plastic plank.

The most unique feature here is the overheard spinner that has a spherical cage in the middle, which invites different ways for kids to hang or sit while spinning like a maniac.

Because these two play components are catered for older kids, the younger children tend to gravitate towards the other side of the playground which has a sand area, pergola-like play hut and embankment slide. 

Interestingly, the fine sand here is evenly mixed with jagged rocks, which I found to be strange. I am not sure if this is a new type of ground cover, but it did make for imaginative treasure hunting type play. Another thing to note is that the fine sand makes the rubber embankment hill quite slippery for some kids. There is also a dust factor with the sand being so fine, because it’s been a very dry summer. My childhood tells me there should be damp sand underneath the top layer of dry sand but no matter how deep we dug, the sand remained dry. Which was also strange. 

Although some parts of the playground are surface accessible, there is very little here that make it inclusive. I point this out because it’s a new playground and it should be something to expect. It just felt like something was missing in this space that would make it feel special. 

On the other hand, there is a wonderful community garden behind the playground that’s worth exploring. There are beds lush with growth as well as cute fruit trees. A grand willow tree sways in the breeze and there’s also a bunch of logs from the remains of a tree that was cut down. There’s also the Italian Cultural Centre’s Il Forno Community Oven on the other side of the park for all your impromptu pizza making needs.

Completed in July 2020, this new playground rebuild features a similar play structure as the one at Tisdall Park, with the addition of a long roller slide, stairs and sliding pole.

As seen in the photo gallery above, the playground is designed for the 5 – 12 yr age range and features multiple climbing options such as steps, ladders, rope nets and a cylinder rope climber in the middle.

Located on a grassy slope, this colourful playground also includes a plastic embankment slide. Rubber dome steppers, stairs and rope assist children with the ascent to the top of the hill.

Standalone play components include a spinning pole as well as a two seated spring rider.

Although there are no schools within a block of the park, there was a secondary class at the playground during our visit. As outdoor classrooms are desired during covid, playgrounds such as this one might be in use by the surrounding schools during the weekdays. 

Unless you’re missing your high school days and want to sit in to feel your adolescence again, it might be best to prepare a plan B in case this playground is classroom-occupied.

What’s a brewing at Brewers’ Park? A new playground, that’s what!

Reopened on Mother’s Day weekend, this highly anticipated playground features “Greenville” equipment designed by the German based company Berliner-Seilfabrik.

Most popular is the super slide that encourages assessment of risky play as one sizes up the 15ft climb up and the 20ft-ish slide down (approximate numbers here, I didn’t bring a measuring tape!)

There are two trampolines here, which are always a hit and one is near a concrete ledge, which some kids figured out can be a jumping point for some big leaps.

There is much to climb here as the rope nets connect the bottom play hut to the slide as well as rubber membrane steppers. These rubber mats (or “kombu hammocks” as I once nicknamed) are the exact same ones at the Crosstown Elementary school playground.

Other elements include a net basket, all natural log towers and a popular water table in the sand area.

Strangely, the swings have been installed exceptionally low but should be fixed in the near future. Currently they are too low to swing on but kids were seen standing and balancing on the seats instead. (EDIT: They’ve been fixed!)

While the actual park is still under construction, the basketball and tennis courts are also available for play. Nearby is a brand new community garden with a bright yellow entrance way.

The fieldhouse is currently unavailable due to construction but it looked like some port-a-potties were on site.

Early parent feedback of Brewers Park playground: 

Early feedback from parents have been about the lack of shade, causing both the metal slide and rubber mats to reach uncomfortable temperatures. The City has tried to mitigate it by facing the slide northwards and planting a young tree beside it, but the tree will more likely provide shade in time for our future grandchildren. Like most playgrounds with rubber surfacing, it also retains heat and unfortunately is producing a lot of off-gassing. 

Additional feedback was about the slide and how the top platform is quite small, causing children to bottleneck while waiting for their turn down the slide. Younger children can accidentally step backwards and slip from the a tight space. Many children like to climb up the large slide as well, adding to the traffic jam. The enclosed space above doesn’t help the situation, as those slide-climbers can’t see just how many people are waiting up top.

My 6 year old’s review: “The super slide was super! And it was super crowded.”

Have you visited Vancouver’s newest playground rebuild? What did you think?

Although this playground is technically part of Riverfront Park, many mistaken it to be part of Gladstone-Riverside Park because it’s located almost exactly at the halfway point between the two parks. Cartographic essay and powerpoint presentation aside, let’s just say there’s more than one route to get to this playground.

Surrounded by deciduous trees, this simple playground looks like a narrow, elevated playhouse complete with a small roof and rigid plastic flag. There are steps, a ladder, and mini climbing wall to get to the metal slide. The swing set is located away from the main playing area to prevent little ones from obliviously running into swaying kids.

Note that apart from some low lying brush and thorny blackberry bushes, there isn’t much of a barrier to prevent a child from peeking over into the marshy riverbank nearby. Additionally, most dogs seen during our visit were off leash and eager to say hello to the kids because the walking path is very close to the playground itself.

As for getting to this playground, there are three options: First is to park in the small lot at Gladstone-Riverside Park, where there is a pier to overlook the tugboats and log booms along the Fraser River. Next to the pier is an emergency access ramp for firetrucks to draw water from the river, making it an easy way for families to get closer to the water too, although the sign cautions to use the ramp at one’s own risk. From here, the playground is about a 10 min walk east along the Fraser Lands Recreation Path. This portion of the trail is a little woodsy and we encountered many different bird calls and a tree that had been gnawed on by a beaver.

Second way to get to the Riverfront Park West playground is to park on East Kent Ave N at Elliot St, where one will find a ramp and steps to enter the recreational path. The playground is right at this entrance that’s embellished with light blue railings.

Thirdly, one can start at the other playground at Riverfront Park East and walk 10 mins west along the walking trail.

There is a fourth unlikely option to get here and that’s if you were to arrive via the Langara II barge, a green fishing lodge that parks itself here by the playground for the winter. So hey, that’s four ways to choose your own adventure. Which one will YOU choose? *pointing finger at you*

A couple of large trees provide partial shade for this happy Minions-coloured playground. It comes complete with a plastic tunnel slide, a wide metal slide, a hanging bridge, chain link ladder and a rare, square shaped tunnel. From the top platform, children can enjoy seeing barges and tugboats chugging along the Fraser River with log booms in tow. Pea gravel lies below with surprises of little acorns and twigs, creating some tactile play for little ones.

Right next to it are tennis and basketball courts, surrounded by flourishing community garden beds. Benches line one side of the playground but additional seating options like picnic tables, both sheltered and unsheltered, are found a little further down the grassy field. Included in the picnic area are two BBQs and a fieldhouse with washrooms.

Locals will know that the summer brings lovely blackberries near the foot and bike paths along the river, perfect for little ones to munch on by the handful (with parent’s permission of course!).

Street parking on East Kent Ave S is limited, especially on the weekend, so it’s suggested to try parking on East Kent Ave N instead, all the while respecting the residential spots reserved for locals. Look for a crosswalk to find the path that leads over the railroad tracks and down to the riverfront.

Unbeknownst to many, Riverfront Park actually has two playgrounds on site, hidden further west amongst the trees. For a lack of a better name, we have profiled it as Riverfront Park West.

If your family is here to explore the Fraser Lands Recreational Path and River District area, Driftwood Playground and Tugboat Landing await you eastwards.

Thanks to South Vancouver Family Place for kindly suggesting one of their favourite playgrounds, found here at Riverfront Park.

Feel free to tag us on Instagram or Twitter if you visit this and other fun Vancouver playgrounds!