Playgrounds

Splash Pads, Skate Parks, Musical Gardens, and More…

This information will be most useful to the people living in or visiting Bruce County.

Last summer, not much was open. I started taking the kids on “Playground Crawls” (like a bar crawl, but with playgrounds). Basically we would pick a town, then ask the local residents where the playgrounds were. We could usually get through three or four playgrounds in a morning, then try out a local bakery for lunch. There’s usually some playground information online, but not really all in one place. So here it is!

If there are awesome playgrounds in these towns that I am missing, let me know!

This page is always a work in progress, as I am constantly adding playgrounds and pictures to go with the playground info I added at the start.

Kincardine

Davidson Centre Playground
601 Durham St

This is one of the two main playgrounds in Kincardine that you have to try. It is appropriate for all ages. It has ramps and stairs for the little ones (or if you have to chase the kids with a dog leashed to you) and more advanced monkey bars and spider web climbers for the big kids.
The splash pad next to it is amazing in the summer.
There is a skate park next to the playground. My kids have enjoyed running around it (when no one else was there) and taking their scooters through it.
Trails are visible from the park and lead to a pretty good stick fort if you head to the right.

Tiny Tots/MacPherson Playground
216 Lambton St

This playground is incredible in the summer. You can watch the sun set over the water as you go up and down on the swings. The higher level is more appropriate for little kids, and the lower level for older kids. I don’t recommend it as much for the winter. The breeze coming off the water makes it too cold.
It is pirate ship themed. You can see in the pictures that you can climb the skeleton of a giant fish or lie on the sailors hammocks under the ship.
I recommend bringing a change of clothes even if you don’t plan to swim. It’s rare for my kids not to eventually run for the water to splash around.

Rotary Park Playground
699 Huron Terrace

This playground is brilliant because no matter how hard the kids bang on the instruments, it sounds like music you could meditate to. It’s so much fun that I can’t help but pick up a few sticks and make music with them.
There is a small jungle gym and slide and a beautiful fountain and a covered area with picnic tables.

McCullough Crescent Playground

This playground has interesting play equipment and a neat game that’s a lot like “bop it.” I have found that most electric games at playgrounds don’t work (probably out of batteries?) but this one does.
It has a basketball court, a covered picnic area, and trails close by.

Station Beach Playground

Station beach is right across the road from the musical playground at Rotary Park. If you drive into the parking lot and keep following the road deeper into the parking lot, as far as you can go, you will reach a little playground that is close to a walkway to the beach.

Helliwell Park

This park is off Russel Street, but you can park on Palmateer Dr. and go through a little walkway to get there.
This playground is close to my heart because it’s where I used to push Jake and Robin on the swings after picnics in the trails. Parents can take a break on Jake’s memorial bench, while kids play.
I think this entrance to the trails leads to the most beautiful scenery, but I’m biased.

Princes Street and St. Albert St.

I was shocked to find out last week that there was one playground in Kincardine I had never been to. This playground is at the end of Princes Street if you turn onto it from St. Albert St. It is in a field close to the Baptist Church. It has a really cool ladder leading to the slide, a climbing wall, and swings. My kids also enjoyed playing in the sand.

Connaught Park

133 Broadway Street

This little park is near the baseball diamonds and (in the summer) the Saturday Farmer’s Market. My kids sometimes like to run around the baseball diamonds after playing at the park.

Lake Range Drive and Kennedy Road

(Near Concession 12 and Lake Range Drive)

Huron Heights Public School

Russel Street (Only Available Evenings and Weekends)

This school has a great sand pit. It’s basically a sand hill and they have buckets there to let you dig sand more easily.

St. Anthony’s School Playground (Currently Disassembled Due to Construction)

Russel Street

Elgin Market School (Evenings and Weekends Only)

Queen Street and Kincardine Avenue

KTTPS School Playground (Evenings and Weekends Only)

Highway 21

Penetangore Hub – By the New Building Behind No Frills

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Port Elgin

Cameron Park
649 Mill Creek Rd

Beautiful playground surrounded by trees. Many types of playground equipment. It’s hard to see when you first drive in because of the trees, but if you park by the baseball diamonds, you will see it.

Nodwell Park
788 Highland Street

Old-style metal playground with a little zip-line.
Nice variety from some of the newer playgrounds.

North Shore Park

Basic playground but great-looking splash pad with giant flowers and cattails and leaves. Makes you feel like you are in Honey I Shrunk the Kids. And it is right by the beach.

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Southampton

Jubilee Park
50 Victoria Street South.

This playground has a very interesting shape and has something for everyone. If you are looking for variety in playgrounds, this is the place. Big round swings, bells to ding, a rope bridge to a rope climber.
Next to the fire hall with windows to look at the old-style fire trucks.
A firetruck-themed splash pad.

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Goderich

Victoria Park
80 Victoria St N

Right when you come into town. It has lots of playground equipment, and is very spread out over a big field. You can close some of the gates to keep toddlers from wandering away. It has a mini splash pad. Great playground to start at.

Glen Philips Memorial Playground
179 South Street

This playground has a lot of novel equipment which makes it a nice change from other playgrounds.

Hunter Costello Memorial Playground
160 Eldon St.

This is Hunter. He is the whole reason this playground is here for us all to enjoy, donated with the hard work and support of those who love him. There is a beautiful sign at the playground, where you can see his picture, as well. Here is their website: www.huntercostellomf.ca

This playground is so much fun and so unique. It truly brings joy to every child that plays there.

Butterfly Playground

245 Blake St W (At the corner of Blake St W and Wilson St).

This butterfly-themed playground apparently has many actual butterflies around it in August
It is surrounded by picnic benches, shaded by large trees, with benches overlooking a beautiful view of the lake.

Beach Playground (Donated by the Million/Lenzin Families)

2 Beach St

A very original beach and water-themed playground. Notice the detail of the fish bone inside the giant orange fish.
There were many little activities on the walls of the playground, including pictures that make sounds when you hit the speaker buttons.

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Point Clark

Playground 1
At the very end of Concession 2 as it turns into Huron Road.

This playground has three slides and some really tall swings that make swinging an extra thrill.

The jungle gym has a cork-screw pole around the center pole that allows you to twist your way down (see picture).
There is a cute little table that the kids enjoy playing tea party at with rocks as food.
It has a nice field for tag or flying a kite and a hedge at the back of the field that has a “secret passage” behind it right by the fence.

Playground 2
Attawandaron Road and Lake Range Drive

Has a swing that lets a baby sit across from a big sibling.
Adjacent to a tennis court.
It’s beautiful surroundings make it a nice, quiet space to play.

Playground 3
Lighthouse Park – at the end of Lighthouse Road, right by the beach and lighthouse.

My daughter’s favourite part of this playground is the cushy feel to the ground. It looks like wood chips, but it’s something rubbery.
It has a built-in playhouse that they kids enjoy.
It’s right next to the beach and the lighthouse.

Playground 4
Community Centre Playground

Just off Lake Range Drive between Lurgan Lane and St Arnaud St.

This playground is by the baseball diamond.
There is a large, covered picnic area.
The bleachers and picnic area were fun to frolic around in.

Playground 5
At Alfred St and Sunrise St.

Really neat playground with riding bugs, a jungle gym/slide, bars for gymnastics.

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Lucknow

Playground 1
Inglis St and Willoughby Street. Close to Nine Mile Villa.

A neat playground and a set of swings.

Playground 2
Havlock St and Hamilton St
Beside the Lucknow Presbyterian Church

The local residents of Lucknow assure me that there are only two playgrounds.

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Ripley

Lewis Park
Corner of Queen St and Huron St

Has a mini splash pad and some cool playground equipment with sand-digging toys.

Ripley Memorial Park
Just off Queen Street, by the baseball diamonds.

It’s fenced in, so you don’t have to worry about little ones wandering away.

Ripley School Playground
2 Queen St.

I love this school yard. It has huge trees and lots of open space.
The playgrounds in the first pictures were different from a lot of playgrounds, so the kids enjoyed the novelty, especially for the slides.
The old metal playgrounds were even more of a novelty. They enjoyed pretending that they were jails that they kept escaping from, and convincing the dog to go in.

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Bervie

Bervie Park
Highway 9 and Bervie Sideroad.

A nice little playground. Two slides, an accessible swing that’s actually easy to unlatch, some parts to climb on and a little rocking horse-type toy.

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Tiverton

Tiverton and District Playground
Ross St.

A big playground. Great place to stop on the way to Kaiser’s Fruit Farm (if you live near me).

Maple Street Playground

Across from 26 Maple Street.

A well-loved playground where children have put up blankets to make forts.
Surrounded by trees and a grassy field with a farmer’s field next door. A beautiful area.

Playground 3 (Inverheron)

Albert Road and Bruce Road 15 (toward the lake from the first playground)

Playground 3 (Inverheron)

Bruce Road 15 and Lake St (Right by the lake, at the end of Bruce Road 15)

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Paisley

Playground 1
By baseball diamonds. Near the intersection of James St and Inkerman St.

This is an older playground which has nice variety and old-style teeter totters.
The kids loved the communication bored. We use it to communicate what we wanted to play next. The kids found it hilarious when I paired the “Need to Use the Bathroom” sign with any of the other ones to make a message. E.g. “You want to go potty on the slide?”

Mary Cummiungs Park/”Tot Lot Park”
429 Ross St.

You can’t see this one from the road. You have to turn into a grass driveway by a yellow brick house.
This one is nice for little kids, but was also enjoyed by Robin (age five).
It has a little playhouse underneath the play structure with a pretend fireplace.

Doctor Milne Playground

Arnaud St and George St.

This playground says ages 5-12, but other than the jungle gym part, my three-year-olds were fine with it.
The metal slide was a neat change from usual slides. I think the kids went down faster.

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Walkerton

Central Park (Tot Lot)

233 Yonge St. (Intersection of Yonge and Campbell)

Central Park Junior Play Structure (ages 1.5-5 years)

Central Park Senior Play Structure (ages 5-12)

Wading Pool

Playground 2

Around Yonge St. and Durham St, Right Across the River (Doing this by memory, so I will double check)

This park is right by the river. It has such a beautiful view and an interesting playground to climb.

Walkerton Kinsmen Splash Pad and Playground

10 James St.

I don’t have the splash pad picture yet, but this playground is across a cute little bridge, just past the splash pad.

Walkerton District High School Playground (Evenings and Weekends Only)

1320 Yonge St. S

The climbing structure with the slides requires a bit of supervision because it’s meant for older kids, but it’s very fun.

Serendipity Restaurant

1451 Yonge St. S

This is my children’s favourite playground in all of Walkerton.
It’s realistic-looking fire-truck is so much fun to play on.
The food is gourmet pub-food, which is my favourite type of food.
They have Unicorn and Gummy Worm-Themed Ice Cream Sundays!
Overall, a great place to go for lunch on a playground crawl.

Mildmay

Rotary Park
Highway 9 just before the town starts on the way from Walkerton

This is a really neat playground. It has swing rocking horses that I’ve never seen anywhere else and descending parallel poles that children can hook their arms onto and use as a slide (again I have never seen this anywhere else). Big, round swings, and a nice play structure. It is next to a little pond with a water wheel and beautiful trails.

Park 2
This is off Absalom St E behind the medical building. If you pull into that parking lot, you can see it.

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Hanover

Speck Wilken Park
781 7th Avenue

It’s like four or five parks in one, all spread out over a beautiful grassy field, surrounded by trees and a river. It has the best accessible swings I’ve seen.

Kinsmen Ball Park
327 17th Ave (I looked this up after, so I can’t confirm the address)

This one has a nice, old-style playground with metal slides and a neat balance beam, plus a newer play structure. It has tall swings that let you swing farther.

Hanover Raceway Playground
This one is in the parking lot of the community centre, behind Hanover Raceway.

It says it’s for ages 5-12. My kids still enjoyed it a bit, but I think older kids are more appropriate based on the structure and the location (in the middle of a busy parking lot).

Sulfur Springs Conservation Area

I never got to try this playground, but I was told there is one there.

Brant Drive-In

I was also told there is a playground here. Still need to check it out.

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Teeswater

12 Hillcrest St.

Teeswater has an incredible playground with a merry-go-round, jungle gym, swings, and little rocking horses. It also has an outdoor pool with a shallow wading pool that I’m told is really nice in the summer.

Wingham

Maitland River Elementary School

250 John St E

This is one of the most incredible playgrounds I have ever seen. It’s like five playgrounds in one. This picture doesn’t do it justice. If you can only stop at one playground, make it this one. Here are more pictures below.

Here are just some of the features:

Two types of marry-go-rounds
Bells you can ding that actually sound beautiful (most things you ding at playgrounds stop working well over time)
A slide with rollers, which is like no other playground I have seen.
A very unique climbing area on the middle playground which my children immediately designated as their fort and divided into rooms.

Splash Pad/Playground

239 William St

Libro Ballpark

Intersection of Remington Drive and Park Drive

Somehow I didn’t get the swings in this picture, but there are swings too. And a bathroom in the little building you can just see on the right of this picture.

Fisherman’s Cove

13 Southline Ave, RR4 Huron-Kinloss, Ontario, N2Z 2X5

You can take day trips to Fisherman’s Cove. It costs $12 for a car with one person, and five dollar for each additional person in the car. They have four incredible playgrounds and a water playground. The lake is smaller than Lake Huron, which means the water is very warm. The sand is beautiful and well-maintained. And there are two pools, one with a hot tub.