Our Favourite Vancouver Playgrounds for Some Summer Fun!

May 24

Written By Petit Architect Design for Kids Ltd.

When you think of architecture, what do you think of? It’s buildings right? Skyscrapers, museums, and houses are all part of architecture but there’s things like playgrounds, parks, and more that you don’t always think of! Designing our very own playground is a kid friendly activity that’s always a big hit. Not only do they love building them but they also love playing on them!

What Makes a Great Playground?

We love visiting playgrounds not just because they’re fun, but because they’re great examples of design in action!

When kids play, they’re interacting with architecture by climbing over structures, moving through spaces, testing balance, and discovering how things are built.

When we visit playgrounds, we often notice things like:

Movement: Is there lots to climb, slide, balance on, and move through?
Imagination: Does the space invite pretend play or open-ended exploration?
Materials: Is it built with wood, rope, metal, sand, or natural elements?
Community: Are there places to gather, rest, and play together?
Connection to nature: Is there shade, greenery, water, or room to explore beyond the equipment itself?

These are some of the same ideas we explore in our classes when kids design their own playgrounds and public spaces.

Here are some of our favourite playgrounds around Vancouver that we love to visit to enjoy some fresh air and sunshine.

Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment

The Terra Nova Adventure Play Environment is located in Richmond and features some unique equipment. Staying away from more contemporary designs, it was built using more sustainable materials and practices which helps it stand out. It has lots of room to run, climb, and play!

Yaletown Playground

You might have heard of the recently opened Yaletown playground (the official name to come). This new park at Smithe and Richards streets was built for adults and children. It has structures to play and climb on, cozy nooks for reading, hammocks for relaxing, and lots of art installations. A must visit for sure!

Lions Playground for Children of All Abilities

Lions Park

Lion’s Park is located at Boundary Bay Regional Park in Delta. It’s a fairly big playground right next to the beach so you can make it a full day of all kinds of fun. It’s also an accessible friendly playground and beach!

Moodyville Park Playground

The Moodyville Park Playground located in North Vancouver is a huge playground that all ages can enjoy. The big wooden structures allow for lots of climbing around while there’s some easier activities like a sandbox with trucks to play in. There’s even a skate park with soft edges which is great for beginners!

Douglas Park Playground

Douglas Park Playground is another fun one! It has the usual equipment but there’s also a treehouse and a smaller playhouse. Perfect for those with big imaginations! There’s also lots of seating for parents to enjoy while watching their children play.

Redwood Park Playground

A favourite for nature-loving families, Redwood Park combines a wheelchair-accessible playground with scenic forest trails, picnic shelters, and lots of space to explore. It’s the perfect place for a summer playground visit that can easily turn into a full afternoon outdoors!

Willoughby Community Park Playground

A favourite for active kids, this playground has a giant spiral slide, climbing structures, monkey bars, and lots to explore. With a separate area for younger kids, a spray park, and picnic shelter nearby, it’s an easy spot to spend a summer afternoon.

Next time you visit a playground, try looking at it like a designer! How is it built? What would you add? What would you change?

If your child enjoys this kind of thinking, we’ve created a simple Playground Design Activity you can do together at home.

Download it to turn playground visits into creative design adventures!