This is a fine playground yet I can’t recommend it to anyone because there’s a hot coal disposal pit right next to it. Like who does that? Who in the city approved that this was the best spot for a coal disposal pit? Curious kids like mine obviously went to see why there was smoke coming out from it, climbed on top of it, and used it as a jumping point. 

Yes, I did report it to 311. No, I didn’t get a response. And no, I haven’t gone back since to see if the coal pit was moved to a more suitable spot. It’s just plain annoying. Imagine going there and then spending your entire time hawk eyed that kids don’t touch it because THERE’S HOT COALS INSIDE. Ugh.

This little old playground at West Point Grey Community Centre is mostly enjoyed by the preschool kids that attend here. The most memorable feature is the vintage blue whale, that waits with a smile to take the next kid for a springy ride to nowhere.

This little playground is visible from the street on Eagles Dr and located between a few residential buildings. There’s a shared lawn space beside the play area and a dry stone stream along the perimeter. Two mysteriously shaped spring riders and a small multi-level platform sums up this little play spot. 

The platform has interesting patterns, a simple pair of binoculars, steering wheel and joystick. The main structure is ambiguous enough that it could be anything from a ship to an Uber UFO. 

We didn’t stay here for long because my kids quickly found throwing the stones from the dry creek was more entertaining than the play structure itself. Probably a good spot for little toddlers looking for a quiet place to play.

Street parking is quite limited in the area with a few two hour spots. It’s also very close to Jim Taylor Park playground and the Reconciliation Pole.

Charleson Park is one of two playgrounds in the City of Vancouver, that feature an eye-catching, wooden pirate ship! (The other “pirate park” is Jones Park) Complete with a steering wheel and telescope on deck, it also includes components like climbing nets, a rope and log bridge, a rubber hammock and table with seats below. From above, children can take in the views of False Creek and shout, “Ahoy ye maties!” to those walking the seawall.

A favourite playground for many, Charleson also features a big embankment slide that’s angled in a way that causes some people to mysteriously slide very slow and other times very fast. It’s a silly way to pass the time, watching people anticipate a scary slide down but be met with a slo-mo journey instead.

Rebuilt and reopened in late 2020, it’s also the second playground (after Douglas Park) to showcase not one but TWO trampolines. Elevated portions in the rubber surfacing invite creative jumping opportunities. 

This large playground also has elements that were present before the rebuild, such as the play structure with slide and climbers, as well as the multi-user we-saw, springy platform, playhouse and digger in the sand area. Other aspects are new, like the rope pyramid, spring rider (I think?) and play kitchen.

This “pirate park” as some call it, also provides the most variety of swings, catering to a wide range of preferences from baby and standard swings, to universal, saucer, and also a unique tandem swing that we have yet to seen at other playgrounds.

Lastly, many locals were sad to see the large climbing tower be removed during the rebuild. It was a 30+ yr old, tall wooden structure that provided a large platform to view the river from above. Now the embankment provides a similar vantage point and the tree that was next to the tower now has a timber deck with a rope swing. It’s not as grand as the tower used to be, but it had to be retired due to it’s age and condition.

Charleson Park is one of our favourite places and not just because of the appealing new playground. A leisurely walk from the Laurel St land bridge reveals other gems like wooded pathways, a waterfall, little ravine, pond and other pockets of nature. We hope to write about what else makes Charleson Park a wonderful spot in a future blog post.

Please note that False Creek Elementary uses this playground during school hours.

Back in the day when I attended UBC, this southern area of campus used to be a giant parking lot called, “B Lot”. Now, it’s completely unrecognizable as it’s been converted into a residential neighbourhood called Hawthorn Place. The then-brand new Forestry building across the street was the only reason I could find my bearings, as my kids and I checked out the playground at Jim Taylor Park in UBC.

Here we found a wooden playground off to one side, next to some tall hedges. The structure with a slide has a rope net, ladder, corner ladder, twirly pole and sliding pole. There’s also a couple of stools to sit on underneath.

A monkey bar set and a vertical climbing structure round out this playground, that’s catered for the 5-12 yr old range. 

My two year old is a pretty good climber but he had trouble climbing the ladder and was frustrated he couldn’t get to the slide easily. My 6 year old also didn’t enjoy this park, only because the slide gave him an electrostatic shock. He concluded that, “This playground is as bad as slipping on an old potato.”

This leisurely park has a peaceful walkway, lush green lawn, fountains and a dry stone stream. It shares the space with the Old Barn Community Centre and a lodge-like Bean Around the World coffee shop with outdoor seating. On the opposite side is an area that features a 12 x 12 tiled checkerboard floor. I’m curious to know if giant chess or checker pieces are provided during certain times for the public to enjoy a game.

Across from the street is the aforementioned Forest Science building, large community green space with amphitheater-like outdoor seating, as well as a carved wooden arch, beautifully gifted by the Sopron School of Forest Engineering for UBC’s role in taking in student refugees during the Hungarian Revolution. 

Most striking though, is the Reconciliation Pole, that stands front and centre across from the Forestry building. You can read about it HERE in it’s own dedicated post. 

This playground can be found on the eastside of the park by Willow St. It’s slightly hidden as it’s encompassed by a circle of trees and brush. The play structure here comes with multiple climbing options, such as blocky steps (similar to the ones seen at Coal Harbour Park playground), stone steps, climbing wall and two different ladders. Extra features include a maze panel, rubber mat bridge and a small metal slide.

An additional feature is a metal grid tunnel that can double as a cage when your children displease you. Just have them crawl in and block off both sides. This exact same tunnel can also be found at Carolina Park playground.

Exploring Oak Meadows Park:

Oak Meadows is a popular spot for some forest preschools, as the area has manageable wooded sections that invite many forms nature play. Right beside the playground is a wooded swampy area that becomes a pond-like puddle after a nice bit of rain. Directly adjacent to this playground is a large sports field that’s popular in the evening for soccer games or picnic hangs.

Walk along the paths to find a delightful Insect Hotel made from an old telephone booth and some artwork near the entrance on 37th Ave. It was surrounded by wildflowers in the summertime but unfortunately the Insect Hotel, which was part of the Nectar Trail initiative in 2013, doesn’t seems to be maintained anymore. 

Oak Meadows Park’s Off-Leash Dog Park:

The very west portion of the park is an off-leash dog park that includes a grassy, sparsely wooded area with tall evergreens and many stumps. There’s even a stump that’s been carved into an elevated chair or throne, perfect for anyone having a superiority complex that day. Often times there are no dogs around, which makes this section an interesting place to explore but keep an eye out for dog poop and some thorny plants. This particular section is left unkempt with natural growth, hence the park being called a meadow.

Lastly, there are several plastic patio chairs underneath some trees that migrate around the perimeter and dog park area. They’ve been left by locals for others to enjoy, like the young people who gather in the evenings. I’ve also seen a picnic table migrate around the park but I’m unsure if it’s a city owned one or another local contribution.

This very small toddler playground features a shaded swing set and a little playhut in the sand. The playhouse is a nice height for little ones and includes a table-like ledge inside. There isn’t much else to do here for older kids but for toddlers the elevated lawn is fun for running around. A rectangular stone ledge may also be fun for climbing and balancing.

There’s official signage stating, “Please no dropping off toys” which I’m guessing is in response to people who wanted to make this underwhelming playground a little more stimulating.

Rosemary Brown is a significant figure in Canadian history as she was the first black woman to be elected into any provincial legislative assembly of Canada. She has done much for BC and this playground doesn’t seem to do justice to reflect her accomplishments.

Note that Arbutus Greenway Park Playground, which features a long tube slide, is a short walk away.

This huge slide was a big surprise considering it’s quite rare to see such a long tube slide as part of an old school, wooden playground. It’s simple with one platform to climb up to, a submarine window to peer out of, and a green tube slide to zoom down. 

At the bottom is another play structure with a tic tac toe panel, climbing plank and a sliding poles. 

Obviously, the main attraction here is the huge tube slide but another stunner here is an arbour that blooms with gorgeous purple wisteria in the spring. It’s a nice little spot to sit in the shade, take some Instagram-worthy photos and watch the kids. It would be cool to join in on the fun with the slide but the end is very close to the ground so if you’re quite tall, you might need to exit it in a pretty horizontal fashion.

The area is pretty quiet as this playground is in the middle of a stretch of greenspace for residents living in nearby apartments. Before this pocket of space existed, the walking path used to be 11th Ave and also a brewery until the 90s.

If you visit this playground, please know that a very small play area at Rosemary Brown Park is just a short walk away.

The unique climber hills make this playground look very familiar to the one at Shannon Mews Park. The hills invite children to climb over and under but can be a bit tricky for the younger ones. My two year old was able to climb them but going down was a bit too steep.

The hills link two platforms, one of which has a double curved slide, arched ladder and steps. The other platform is a bit underwhelming as it has a half climber hill to go up and another to go down. My two year old was confused how to get down this second platform as he was expecting another slide, although a sliding pole is an option for older kids.

Shaded partially by the nearby condo building and some trees, it’s a fun spot to stop by if you’re wandering the neighbourhood and enjoying the park’s greenscape with it’s open water features and fountains.

There’s also some bright yellow lounge chairs on either side of the park where we sat to eat our hotdog lunch. One set of chairs is under a pergola with an additional picnic table and overlooks the park from a patio-like ledge.

The Wesbrook community centre is within walking distance if one needs the washroom facilities. If visiting in the summer, bring your swimsuits because the community centre has a splash pad to enjoy as well. 

It’s easy to make a day of it at Wesbrook village, which has many other playgrounds to explore – Noble Park playground, Smith Park playground, and Khorana Park playground.  We will feature them all soon!

Apart from some late afternoon shade, this toddler playground is in full sun during the day and can be a scorcher in the summer.

Located on the northwest corner of a large field, this old style playground is plunked in the middle of some pea gravel and features a double slide and a wide slide. The slides are a tad steep and could use an extra foot of extension at the end to prevent one’s child from falling off. So, be ready at the bottom to slow them down if need be.

The top platform is a hexagon and has two small ledges for benches. There’s also a scratched up circular window to peek out of and an excessive amount of steering wheels to satisfy any backseat driver. Four steering wheels to be exact.

We enjoyed a lot of dump truck action during our visit as the street was a loading zone for trucks to transfer new material to a nearby construction site. Perhaps a common sight for the next couple of years as Oakridge area continues plans to develop and densify.

Lastly, on the other side of the field are some medium-small slopes that look good for sledding in the winter. Probably not a useful tidbit if you’re reading this during a scorching summer, but something to keep in mind.