posted Summer, 2010

Healey Willan Park

August 19, 2010: Biking past this playground, we came to a sudden stop. It's only a little corner pocket park, but it has a good-sized sand play area and a wading pool, lots of benches, and COLOUR -- thanks to all the artwork on the park furniture and the little pool. It does not look like an orphan, the way so many Toronto "parkettes" do. The playground structure is solid, probably about 15 years old, with most of the plastic un-faded but more metal maintenance needed. On the steps to the monkey bars there's even a sizable hole. Some of the rusting areas have been sanded and had rust paint applied, but it looks like the job was abandoned before it was over -- why?

Playground structure -- standard Henderson Playground

wading pool -- painted by neighbouring artist

cheerful benches

old-style swings with nice long chains

short tube slide

some rust remediation, but not much

penetrating rust hole on steps

odd modification of money bars?

people bring lots of plastic toys

generous-sized sand play area

"all religions, arts, and sciences..." bench philosophy

marine-themed picnic table, done by Central Tech students

At the park's south entryway, there's a nicely kept garden bed, filled with perennials. A look on google showed one reason why the park looks so cared-for: http://healeywillanpark.wordpress.com/ -- they have a website and it looks as though in 2010 the park friends have been particularly active in making improvements. Jennifer Deyell answered a query and met with us at the park. She told us about the artist who painted the pool, about the Graffiti Transformation Project that did the benches at no cost, and about the yearly "Party in the Park." Her little daughter said that the party was one of the best days of summer.

Next step from our end: to find out from the Parks supervisor what the rust maintenance schedule is. This is important, since the park is not on the "Play enhancement program" schedule, all the way to 2017.

City capital budget document for the Play Enhancement Program (pdf)

April 12 2014

At a follow-up visit, the playground still looks fine but sadly, the rust is still there too. There has been some neighbourhood discussion about replacing the playground with a new one, maybe even including a large rope climbing tipi, but until that happens, it would be good if the city workers could sand and paint over the rust....

rust

rust

more rust

rust repair looks not quite effective

good old long-chain swings still there

a low wooden barrier around the sand makes a good bench

the daycare look

best design for a non-clogging park fountain

An interesting piece of good news: apparently the litter from night-time youth activity in the park (including dime bags, bottles, etc.) has almost disappeared. Maybe the presence of so many colourful plastic push-toys, trucks, and plastic kitchens creates the wrong backdrop for the youth, and they've gone elsewhere.

The park friends got a terrific drinking fountain installed at the park, one which can't get clogged with sand or litter the way other fountains do. Toronto Park People has written up the story. And with some minimal welding, the rest of the playground could come up to the same standard as this sensible water fountain.

"Party in the park" free boat rides

Park friend Jennifer Deyell says that the yearly "Party in the Park" has continued, and is planned for June 1 this year. Their only problem is that for the first time ever, they have been told they must pay $100 to get a neighbourhood noise assessment because of the local jazz quintet that is willing to play again this year. So that music may have to be cancelled (who wants to pay $100 for contributing live music to a park party?)

"party in the park" bake sale

jazz band needs $100 noise assessment (?)