The document provides details from a community meeting presentation on the preliminary design concept for a new children's playground at Allan Gardens in Toronto. The presentation discusses the background and objectives of the 2006 masterplan for Allan Gardens, including revitalizing horticulture and developing community space. It then reviews the site context and analysis that informed the playground concept, which aims to relate to the plant collections and create unique play spaces for different ages, with nature play, inclusive design, and shade. The conceptual design was presented, outlining the basic elements and zones, with images of potential playground features.

1. Children’s Playground
Allan Gardens Toronto, Ontario
COMMUNITY
MEETING
2012 March 22
Preliminary Design Concept
City of Toronto
Eguchi Associates Landscape Architects

2. PURPOSE / OUTLINE OF MEETING

3. BACKGROUND TO DESIGN

4. Masterplan
2006
Background to Design

5. Masterplan: Vision-Horticulture-Heritage-Tourism-Community

6. Some Masterplan Objectives
Applicable to the Playground
1. To revitalize Allan Gardens as a
place of horticultural excellence.
2. To develop Allan Gardens as a
critical cultural asset and
destination in Toronto and as a
significant heritage resource.
3. To ensure that Allan Gardens
evolves as a community focus that
responds to the needs of the
people that live and work in the
neighbourhood.
Featured Parks
City of Toronto Website

7. Dog Off-leash area was the first initiative of the Masterplan.
The Playground helps to ‘balance the demographics’ of Allan
Gardens.

8. Playground Visitors / Community
Background to Design

10. Context Analysis
Background to Design

11. Allan Gardens Overall Site Background to Design

12. Playground and larger study area

13. Playground Edges
Playground Edges

14. Playground Site Analysis
Background to Design

15. View East Towards Boiler Room

16. View South East Towards Site +/- 25 m

17. View North-West Towards Site

18. Trees and TPZ’s
Grades

19. Background to Design
Playground Comparisons

21. Neshama Playground

28. Rosedale Park

32. CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

33. Some General Objectives
1. To revitalize Allan
Gardens as a place of
1. To design a playground unique to its place and horticultural excellence.
time. To embrace the principles and objectives
of the masterplan. 2. To develop Allan
Gardens as a critical
cultural destination in
2. To develop a community facility with great play Toronto and as a
value that is challenging and safe and enhances significant heritage
resource.
health and growth.
3. To ensure that Allan
Gardens evolves as a
community focus that
responds to the needs
of the people who live
and work in the
neighbourhood.
Vision, Goal, Approach

34. Allan Garden Plant Collections /Children’s
Gardens
1. Relate the experiences of the plant
collection and Children’s Gardens with
those in the playground.
Horticulture Defined
1. The cultivation of a garden, orchard, or nursery;
the cultivation of flowers, fruits, vegetables, or
ornamental plants.
2. The science and art of cultivating such plants.
hortus = garden
culture = cultivation
Themes

35. 1. Perimeter Barrier
2. Entrances: Limited
3. Drinking Fountain: Not included.
4. Accessible Washroom: Not included.
5. Swings: Essential
6. Play Equipment: Different Age Groups and Play Value
7. Nature Play: Sand and Water
8. Inclusive Design: AODA
9. Shade
Program, Issues and Parameters

36. Pollen Nation
DESIGN

37. Design Overview
Basic Elements
Safety and Security

38. Design Zones

39. Circulation

40. Tour of Playground Places

41. Grand Floral Tree Entrance

42. Grand Floral Tree Entrance

43. Grand Floral Tree Entrance

44. Leaf Walk Berry Hop

45. Horizontal Iconic Feature

46. Leaf Walk Berry Hop

47. Hopping
Stones

48. Hopping Stones

53. Cacti Play 6 TO 12

54. Cacti Play 6 TO 12

55. Kompan Galaxy
Cacti Play 6 TO 12

56. Kompan Edge
Cacti Play 6 TO 12

57. Cacti Play 6 TO 12

58. Swings Rotating Climber

59. Swings Rotating Climber

63. Succulents Play 2 to 5

64. Succulents Play 2 to 5

65. Succulents Play 2 to 5

66. Succulents Play 2 to 5

67. Ontario Apple Orchard

68. Ontario Apple Orchard

69. Plant Anatomy: Stamens?

73. Alternative to Old Apple Orchard (Enclosed Play)

75. Sand Petal Nature Play

76. Sand Petal Nature Play

78. Water and Sand

80. Shady Retreat Stoller Parking

81. Shady Retreat Stroller Parking

82. Green Arts Walk

83. Green Arts Walk

84. Supportive & Thematic Elements (potential)

85. Three Sisters

86. Three Sisters’ Mythology

87. Three Sisters

88. Discrete Play Elements

89. Discrete Play Equipment

91. Fencing/ Screening

92. Fencing/ Screening

93. Vertical Iconic Feature

96. Columns and Gateways

97. Existing Decorative Site Element

99. Living Walls
Community Mosaic

100. Living Walls

101. Community Mosaic

103. High Quality Signage

104. Heritage Architecture Acknowledged

105. Safety Surfacing

106. Roberto Burle Marx

107. Engineered Wood Fibre Two Age Groups

108. Picnic Forest

109. Site Furnishings

110. Alternative Seating

112. Children’s Playground
Allan Gardens Toronto, Ontario
COMMUNITY
MEETING
2012 March 22
Discussion
City of Toronto
Eguchi Associates Landscape Architects