Sunset Point Park Playground

Construction continues in the final phase of the Sunset Point Park Playground installation. Play structures are being installed the week of August 2 and 9, 2022. The installation of shade sails and a rubberized surface will follow.

Lastly, the Owl and Firefly forest will be installed, featuring an original art sculpture by artist Kathryn Corbiere of One KWE. Pictured is Corbiere working on the Owl, or Gookooko’oo. The Gookooko’oo is believe to hold powers, and not always seen as good, nor bad. The Gookooko’oo comes out with the fireflies which ties in with the firefly forest theme, nestled within the cedar grove. The interactive sculpture will contain a microphone that people can speak into and have their voice amplified through the forest by way of the lights.

Sunset Point Park Playground is scheduled to re-open to the public in mid-September 2022.

Artist Kathryn Corbiere working on the the Owl, or Gookooko’oo

Engagement with Youth
The sessions themselves were inspirational for staff who saw youth connect and dialogue in a way that seemed extraordinary. The engagement sessions provided a glimpse into the power of collaboration as participants as young as 8 years old: talked, compromised, and discussed how they would all together arrive at an ideal outcome. Staff were struck by the sensitivity of these younger age groups as they sought to ensure the inclusion of peers with accessible needs, or who might benefit from attention being paid to sensory stimulus or reduction. Each collaborative landing added another piece of the consultative puzzle. In the end, staff and consultants realize that they were witnessing the real benefit of this play space: the opportunity to form small communities, and in the process contribute to a larger one that is the sum of its parts.

The Playground Layout
The current activity has staff and Envision Tatham working with Open Space and Kompan to create a final design that includes all custom play features, surfacing needs, earthworks to create land forms, accessibility provisions and enhancements, integration of water into the play experience, and connections to the natural environment. The equipment will be largely constructed from and/or paneled with wood from the Robinia genus of trees – known for being a vibrant, fast-growing, and therefore sustainable source of materials.

Staff and consultants continue to work with the Children’s Treatment Network to access and guide inclusive play.

Additional Opportunities
The development of the playground at Sunset Point has provided additional opportunities to enhance and activate a larger area of use.

Collingwood residents, Ray and Wyn Smith, have generously offered, at no expense to the project, to construct a covered pavilion at the playground in memoriam to their recently passed son, Thom. This space will be just outside of the traditional play area and nestled into the adjacent cedar forest (see Appendix B). The Waterfront Master Plan identified a potential for a Harvest Table location at Sunset Point, this will be the location of that furnishing. The value of this contribution is estimated at approximately $70,000 to $75,000.

Public Open House on Final Design
A final design will be presented in a Public Open House in December of this year.

Public Engagement Summary
https://collingwood.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/39297?preview=39299

Community Survey – Raw Data
https://collingwood.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/39297?preview=39298

Save The Date! Join in on this Family Engagement Workshop about the new Sunset Point Park Playground design project on Saturday, September 14 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM at the Sunset Point Pavilion.

This is a great opportunity to share your ideas, discover information about the design project, and help support the healthy development of children across the community.

On August 21, 2019, The Town of Collingwood’s Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department met with the Children’s Treatment Network at the Collingwood Public Library to engage with youth on the design of a new playground facility at Sunset Point Park.

The Children’s Treatment Network (CTN) supports children and youth with special needs, in their homes, communities, and schools. In an effort to give voice to the kids and families supported by the Children’s Treatment Network and prioritize their opinions on this playground project, Town Staff met with youth in grades 8 to 12, to discuss creating a safe, inclusive, accessible area for play. A great discussion was had on the 7 key forms of play (active, artistic, creative, sensory, games, social, and reflective) and ideas for play space features at the new Sunset Point Park Playground. This youth consultation opportunity builds from an earlier session held with CTN families and staff in late June.

This feedback, along with feedback from our March survey, June Youth Engagement Sessions, and August Family Engagement Sessions, will help guide the design work for the next edition of the Sunset Point Playground.

This playground re-design will serve to revitalize the park environment, supporting healthy development for children across the community.

Visit engage.collingwood.ca to stay informed about the Sunset Point Park Playground project.

On Wednesday, August 14, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, families took part in a Family Engagement Session at the Sunset Point Pavilion about the new Sunset Point Park Playground design project.

Hosted by the Town of Collingwood's Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department, families supported the healthy development of children by sharing ideas and discovering information about the project. A major topic of discussion was the 7 key categories of play (active, artistic, creative, sensory, games, social, and reflective). Children who joined their families also shared their playground design ideas for the play-space at Sunset Point Park.

The playground re-design will create a safe, inclusive, and accessible area for active play.

Local kids share ideas and have their voice heard

The Town of Collingwood’s Parks, Recreation, and Culture Department recently visited local schools to engage with youth on the design of a new playground facility at Sunset Point Park.

In an effort to give voice to kids and prioritize their opinions on this playground project, Town Staff met with over 200 Grade 1 to Grade 7 students at the Collingwood Elementary Schools. These 6 to 13 year olds shared the forms of play that were most important to them out of 7 key categories (active, artistic, creative, sensory, games, social, and reflective), and designated the play opportunities they would like to see in each of those categories. The kids also shared their ideas and designs on how they perceive the play space at the Sunset Point Park.

This feedback, along with feedback from our March 2019 survey, will help guide the process into the next stages of public engagement and design, which will include family engagement opportunities.

The playground re-design will serve to revitalize the park environment, creating a safe, inclusive, and accessible area for active play, supporting healthy development for children across the community.

The current 2.33 hectare playground at Sunset Point Park, known as EnviroPark, was constructed in 1993. The playground was originally built out of wood and concrete, and designed around the theme of water protection and the environment. Park features, including the sand surfacing, do not meet current accessibility standards. After 26 years of community use, this playground now requires replacement.

Use Engage Collingwood to stay informed about the Sunset Point Park Playground project.