Plenty of communities have a playground, but what features make a truly engaging and enjoyable play space? To answer this question, we consulted Jill Footz, the founder of EdmontonPlaygrounds. Since 2020, Jill and her two children have visited and actively “tested” over 400 playgrounds in the greater Edmonton area. As a free service to parents, Jill shares her playground photos and reviews online.
“A great playground is a space that engages people of all ages,” Jill says. “It should have equipment that entices both the kids and adults to play.”
As a playground connoisseur, Jill is pleased with the growing focus on inclusiveness in playground design. “It is encouraging to see more accessible playgrounds and sensory-friendly features,” she says. An example of an inclusive playground can be found in the Ruisseau community in Beaumont. “The play structure has an accessible ramp connected to the paved pathway,” Jill notes. “Also, the soft rubber surfacing throughout the playground makes it fully accessible.”
In her travels around the city, Jill has noticed a few other playground trends. “Nature-inspired playgrounds continue to be popular, often using natural materials,” she observes. “I also appreciate spaces that combine art with outdoor play, like Piney’s Playground in Balwin Park.”
A playground with a theme is always appealing, and the Meadowview community’s dinosaur-inspired park in Leduc delivers in a big way. This custom-made prehistoric play space features larger-than-life dinosaur statues, eggs, and skeletons. “I love that an entire playground was created around the discovery of a dinosaur bone,” Jill says. “It’s still one of the most unique playgrounds in our area.”
From the Jurassic era to the digital era, playgrounds are incorporating technological advancements, too. “Technology is making its way into playgrounds, getting kids off their devices and moving their bodies instead,” Jill explains. “The Yalp Memo playground in Marquis was the first playground to bring this kind of technology to our region.” Since its opening in 2023, this high-tech playground in Northeast Edmonton has been delighting kids with its fun sounds, responsive sensors and flashing 360° LED lights.
Later this year, Qualico Communities is adding a new playground to the Easton community in Spruce Grove. This inviting all-ages play space will include netted climbing, a toddler-friendly “tot lot”, slides, swings, and — most notably — a spinner platform with three spinning buckets. The entire tilted turntable rotates, and each bucket on its surface spins independently. “The spinning buckets will be the star of the show here,” Jill predicts. “I don’t think there is a playground in the Edmonton area with this amazing double-spinning feature.”
The bucket spinner can accommodate participants of various ages and sizes, making it ideal for intergenerational play. “That’s what it’s all about,” Jill says. “The best playgrounds offer options for all ages, extending to tweens, teens, and adults.”
For more playground recommendations from Jill Footz, check out the Edmonton Playgrounds website or Instagram account @edmontonplaygrounds.
