With your help, the City of Courtenay has created a draft of the Park Playground Design Standards to guide the development of new and upgraded playgrounds in our City’s parks!
During Phase 1, we received lots of input about how you like to play through our public survey, workshops, community interest group sessions and drawing contest.
Your ideas and feedback directly informed the development of the draft Park Playground Design Standards. Now we are asking for further feedback to confirm if the draft Park Playground Design Standards reflect how you like to play in Courtenay’s playgrounds.

To review a copy of the full draft standards, click on the project page link: https://www.courtenay.ca/letsplay.

Or if you’d like to review an overview table of the draft standards, click on this link: Playground Design Standards Table.
Adults, please consider answering with input from playground users in your household in completing this questionnaire. The questionnaire will take you approximately 5-10 minutes to complete. Please complete and return your feedback by July 12, 2024 by:
  • Submitting online: www.courtenay.ca/letsplay
  • Email rcs@courtenay.ca
  • Drop off in person to Courtenay City Hall, Attn: RCCS Department, 830 Cliffe Avenue, Courtenay, BC or Lewis Centre, 489 Old Island Highway, Courtenay, BC
(The personal information collected as part of this survey are collected under the authority of Section 26 (c) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will be used solely for the purpose of developing new playground design standards. Should you have any questions about the collection, use and protection of your personal information, please contact the Manage of Business Administration at rcs@courtenay.ca or 250-703-4859)

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* 1. Take a moment to review the draft vision statement for Courtenay’s park playgrounds and let us know if you support the vision, are neutral or do not support.

A vision statement describes an aspirational long-term future for Courtenay’s playground system. The draft vision statement was informed by community feedback received during Phase 1, directions from previous planning efforts, background research, and input from City staff.

**Draft Vision Statement**
Our City’s park playgrounds are safe, fun, and inclusive places, where community members of all ages and abilities can gather, socialize, and play. Well-connected by paths and trails, playgrounds are centres of activity in Courtenay’s parks – inviting and comfortable to enjoy all year long.

The playground system will offer a diverse range of innovative and exciting play opportunities, allowing everybody to challenge their abilities, stimulate their curiosity, and foster exploration and imagination. Each park playground will provide a different experience, all while celebrating Courtenay’s unique identity and sense of place.

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* 2. During Phase 1, we asked for your feedback on a list of guiding principles that will help frame the Park Playground Design Standards. Using the feedback we received, we have revised the guiding principles to better reflect community priorities. Please review the updated list below and indicate whether you support the principles, are neutral, or do not support.

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* 3. The Park Playground Design Standards document includes nine (9) design standard areas for designers, builders, and staff to consider when renewing or building new playgrounds. Please review the following list and indicate whether you are supportive, neutral or don’t support the standards. For more information, click on the titles below to open a PDF link to the corresponding standard .

1. Accessibility & Inclusivity - Plan welcoming, inclusive, fun play environments for all ages and abilities

2. Siting the Playground - Integrate playgrounds seamlessly with the park and surrounding neighbourhood

3. Pathways and Connectivity – Provide safe, well-connected paths of travel to access park playgrounds

4. Boundaries and Enclosure – Assess site features to determine appropriate boundaries and levels of enclosure

5. Playground Surfacing and Edging – Implement resilient, easy to maintain, inclusive surfacing and edging

6. Play Elements and Opportunities – Provide a wide range of play opportunities for all to enjoy

7. Trees and Planting – Integrate shade trees and planting areas surrounding playgrounds

8. Supporting Amenities – Provide a variety of supporting amenities to activate park playgrounds

9. Programming – Encourage community use of park playgrounds with diverse programming

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* 4. Please review the draft Park Playground Design Standards and use the space below to provide your feedback. The draft standards are also available through an overview table. Did we get it right? Are we missing anything? If you have a comment about a specific item, please provide a corresponding page or section number to direct your feedback. Your input and ideas will be considered and integrated as the standards are finalized.

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* 5. Optional question: We’re testing the standards in an up-coming playground replacement project at Woodcote Park. We’ll provide the community park standards to playground suppliers and ask them to provide playground replacement options that meet the standards where possible within our project budget. Is there anything else we should consider for the Woodcote Park Playground replacement project that was not covered in the playground standards?

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