JIM TAYLOR PARK PLAYGROUND

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.