Three CFB Halifax sites – Windsor Park, Upper Shearwater, and Lower Shearwater – required construction of seven new play areas to replace existing playgrounds. The project involved the oversight of design and construction for four active playgrounds and three passive play areas. Our scope included site furniture (benches, picnic tables, bike racks), pathways, lighting, planting, and general landscaping. The concepts were developed through an integrated design process with community representatives and staff groups.
Each active playground has a unique theme that guided its design and selection of play equipment. The themes – forest, beach, airplane, and urban – responded to the site’s specific context and surroundings. The play equipment was designed to accommodate children from 18 months to 12 years, including accessible play components for children with limited mobility. All designs comply with Canadian Standards Association (CSA) guidelines and feature various types of play surfacing, including poured-in-place rubber surfacing, play sand, and engineered wood fibre.