Eby Farm Playground

During the June 17 Council meeting, staff presented the site plan and initial playground designs. The site plan identifies the playground replacement, the sand play area and an orchard and picnic area. The Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) also emphasized the importance of prioritizing improvements to the built environment and provided an update on their input on the design of the playground.

Council approved the funding to begin construction on the expansion of the playground this summer.

Watch the recorded June 17 Council meeting about the Eby Farm playground expansion.

Site and location plan
The images below include a map of Waterloo Park identifying the completed playground from Phase 1, along with construction area for the Phase 2 expansion which will affect the existing junior playground and bird pen area. A sand play area will be placed near the recently upgraded playground from Phase 1, the remaining playground will be replaced and the current area where the bird pen is will turn into an orchard and picnic area.

We're excited to move to Phase 2 of this project to make the Eby Farm playground even more accessible and enjoyable for everyone in the community.

To make it easier to get to and from the playground, there will be a new accessible path connecting the Young Street lot with the play areas. The playground will also be updated with more fun features that kids of all ages and abilities will love. The design will also include accessible gathering areas, integrated seating and more opportunities for sensory play while getting close to nature.

More information can be found in the June 17 Council Packet, beginning on page 85.

On Tuesday, May 23 the City opened the new Eby Farm Playground in Waterloo Park. The playground is the first in the city to have an accessible rubberized surface, made possible by a $380,000 Community Building Fund – Capital stream grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

The accessible rubberized surface surrounds a new multilevel play structure, rubber and artificial turf hills, a play house, an accessible spinner, shade structures and benches. The existing beloved pig sculptures were relocated to a new sand pit within the playground.