Bayview Village [Henderson/Children's Playgrounds]

Address: 2945 Bayview Ave, map

Recreational Infrastucture agreement:

Rationale describing the specific problems or objectives this project will address: "SERVICE IMPROVEMENT AND ENHANCEMENT- This project will replace the current low play-value/ less challenging playground equipment with modern multi-task structures that will provide greater physical challenges and better social interaction." Read more >>

Playground maintenance history

Bayview Village Park playground maintenance history

Stimulus-fund playground spending:
Design: $14,800
Construction (fencing, tree protection, landscaping, minor infrastructure, etc.): $40,000
Playground or Waterplay equipment: $92,000
Playground/Waterplay Surface: $33,000
Total: $179,800 (Budgeted: $95,000)

Notes

Aug.10 2010: This playground appears to be in very good shape, with an unusually large and varied number of wood-and-plastic structures. The playground, bought from "Children's Playgrounds" (now owned by Henderson) could not be described as having "low play value."

Park users, when asked what they knew about the stimulus project signs, were unaware that it had any relationship to the playground. Some said that the signs were only for advertising. Others said that the project was surely only meant to address a small number of repairs, such as the water leak from the splash pad over to the junior climber.

Oct.21 2013: a miracle: this excellent playground was not demolished after all. It was not replaced by a generic plastic structure. The "stimulus" signs are gone but all the many good elements of the playground are still there. There are a few small changes, notably the resurfacing of the defective splash pad which used to spill water onto the junior structure.

A few small repairs would make this playground perfect -- new chains to replace the rusted ones on the rings (but they still seem solid), and a bit of paint. Astonishingly, the final cost to do what appear to be fairly small changes was almost double the budget. The budget was $95,000, the final cost was $179,800 (see above). And still the chains are rusty!

Photos: August 15, 2010

Stimulus Fund signs

existing second (senior) play structure

large baseball field and tennis courts

these are the washrooms for the whole park

entrance from the residential area to the east

junior play structure

most of the surface material is rubber matting

The company's address is Cambridge Mass.

splash pad

run-off from splash pad onto rubber matting

many different pads near each other

parking lot right beside the playground

Henderson sign, located in Simcoe, Ontario

both structures have a play house

additional senior slide

fitness: arm strength

fitness: more arm strength

senior swings

junior/accessible swings, kids playing in sand

special matting for wheelchair access

bench needs paint (poor maintenance)

October 22, 2011

splash pad surface is the only repair in sight

Everything but the splash pad seems to be same as before, so far.

October 21 2013

Here is a miracle: this excellent playground was not demolished after all. It was not replaced by a generic plastic structure. The "stimulus" signs are gone but all the many good elements of the playground are still there. There are s few small changes, notably the resurfacing of the defective splash pad which used to spill water onto the junior structure.

Junior slide, not gone!

splash pad surface redone

new picnic table

new shredded rubber (?) surfacing under tree

twirly pole still there

fireman's pole and long slide still there

fitness rings and sliders still there

hand-over-hand still there

rust on the ring chains needs fixing

benches need some paint

A few small repairs would make this playground perfect -- new chains to replace the rusted ones on the rings (but they still seem solid), and a bit of paint. Astonishingly, the final cost to do what appear to be fairly small changes was almost double the budget. The budget was $95,000, the final cost was $179,800 (see above). And still the s-hooks are rusty!

Oct.28 2013: email from Councillor Shiner's office: