Playground Accessibility Plan

We are developing a Playground Accessibility Plan to improve accessibility in City playgrounds over the next 10 years. Inclusive and accessible playgrounds allow children, youth and adults of all abilities to play together, enhancing community well-being.

Our goal

Increasing accessibility in playgrounds was identified as a goal within City Council's strategic priorities and follows recommendations from the City's Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

The City of Kingston has three goals in creating the Playground Accessibility Plan:

  • Increase accessibility in City playgrounds and play equipment.
  • Ensure equitable distribution of accessible playgrounds across the City.
  • Undertake this work with the resources available.

How this plan helps us achieve those goals

The Playground Accessibility Plan will review accessibility in City of Kingston playgrounds and provide recommendations to increase accessibility via park renovations and new park development. It will contain recommendations for the design and development of new playgrounds, and strategies to retrofit existing playgrounds.

The Plan will be used to prioritize projects for funding, which will allow the City to implement improvements to playground accessibility steadily over the next decade.

How we currently make playgrounds accessible

Accessible City playgrounds meet the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). These playgrounds incorporate a variety of play features for different ages and abilities, and contain a ground surface that is firm, level and stable. Safety standards also require that the playground’s surface help to reduce potential impact injuries from falling.

Every time the City renovates an old playground or constructs a new one, it meets the accessibility standards of the AODA, and the playground safety standards set out in the Canadian Standard for Children’s Playground Equipment and Surfacing.

Our goal is to create play spaces that are engaging and fun for the community and compliant with all applicable legislation and standards.

Park renovations and new parks are built with collaboration from the community, the design consultants and the City’s Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee (MAAC).

Report a maintenance issue

Park maintenance issues are handled through the City's operations team. If you have a concern or maintenance issue to report, please use the City's Contact Us options to ensure it's tracked and addressed.

How you can stay connected and get involved

Use the Follow Project feature on this page to sign up for updates specific to this project. New information and upcoming opportunities to share your ideas will be shared here and with project followers.

Upcoming public engagement opportunities

Public input will be important in developing this plan and will occur in various forms throughout the spring, summer and early fall of 2025. Confirmed upcoming opportunities are listed below:

Community Workshops

Introductory community workshops are planned for early June. These events will orient community members to the project and its goals. They will provide an opportunity to ask questions and discuss challenges and opportunities. Each event will share the same information. One event is in person and one is online, depending on what works best for you. We will be sharing details of the workshop's content on this page following the community workshops.

  • In-person: June 11 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Kingston East Community Centre. This event is a drop in format, come by whenever you like between 4:30 and 7 p.m. to learn more, ask questions and share your thoughts. Advance registration is not required.
  • Online: June 12 from 7 to 8:15 p.m. on Zoom. This event includes a short presentation followed by an opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts. Please register in advance for this event.

We are developing a Playground Accessibility Plan to improve accessibility in City playgrounds over the next 10 years. Inclusive and accessible playgrounds allow children, youth and adults of all abilities to play together, enhancing community well-being.

Our goal

Increasing accessibility in playgrounds was identified as a goal within City Council's strategic priorities and follows recommendations from the City's Parks and Recreation Master Plan.

The City of Kingston has three goals in creating the Playground Accessibility Plan:

  • Increase accessibility in City playgrounds and play equipment.
  • Ensure equitable distribution of accessible playgrounds across the City.
  • Undertake this work with the resources available.

How this plan helps us achieve those goals

The Playground Accessibility Plan will review accessibility in City of Kingston playgrounds and provide recommendations to increase accessibility via park renovations and new park development. It will contain recommendations for the design and development of new playgrounds, and strategies to retrofit existing playgrounds.

The Plan will be used to prioritize projects for funding, which will allow the City to implement improvements to playground accessibility steadily over the next decade.

How we currently make playgrounds accessible

Accessible City playgrounds meet the requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA). These playgrounds incorporate a variety of play features for different ages and abilities, and contain a ground surface that is firm, level and stable. Safety standards also require that the playground’s surface help to reduce potential impact injuries from falling.

Every time the City renovates an old playground or constructs a new one, it meets the accessibility standards of the AODA, and the playground safety standards set out in the Canadian Standard for Children’s Playground Equipment and Surfacing.

Our goal is to create play spaces that are engaging and fun for the community and compliant with all applicable legislation and standards.

Park renovations and new parks are built with collaboration from the community, the design consultants and the City’s Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee (MAAC).

Report a maintenance issue

Park maintenance issues are handled through the City's operations team. If you have a concern or maintenance issue to report, please use the City's Contact Us options to ensure it's tracked and addressed.

How you can stay connected and get involved

Use the Follow Project feature on this page to sign up for updates specific to this project. New information and upcoming opportunities to share your ideas will be shared here and with project followers.

Upcoming public engagement opportunities

Public input will be important in developing this plan and will occur in various forms throughout the spring, summer and early fall of 2025. Confirmed upcoming opportunities are listed below:

Community Workshops

Introductory community workshops are planned for early June. These events will orient community members to the project and its goals. They will provide an opportunity to ask questions and discuss challenges and opportunities. Each event will share the same information. One event is in person and one is online, depending on what works best for you. We will be sharing details of the workshop's content on this page following the community workshops.

  • In-person: June 11 from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at the Kingston East Community Centre. This event is a drop in format, come by whenever you like between 4:30 and 7 p.m. to learn more, ask questions and share your thoughts. Advance registration is not required.
  • Online: June 12 from 7 to 8:15 p.m. on Zoom. This event includes a short presentation followed by an opportunity to ask questions and share your thoughts. Please register in advance for this event.
Page last updated: 15 May 2025, 08:27 AM