Changing tastes prompting new park designs, facilities

Cities across Canada are rethinking their park spaces as play changes, replacing teetertotters, golf courses and baseball diamonds with space for cricket, pickleball and play structures for all ages.

Coquitlam has set a goal of having a park or greenspace within a five-minute walk of all residents.

The Metro Vancouver suburb recently redeveloped Rochester Park with a natural wood playground, zipline, trails and sheltered picnic space in an example of how the city is trying to meet diverse needs and interests.

Andre Isakov, the city’s park planning and design manager, said as Coquitlam grows, there is increased pressure on parks to become community gathering spaces.

“More and more people today live in multifamily housing. More and more kids don’t have access to backyards so really parks are becoming critical and essential to rediscovering the outdoors,” he said.

Parents often ask for a range of activities so children of all ages can find something to do and space for themselves to socialize, he said.

With an aging population, catering to the needs of seniors and pet owners are increasingly a priority, he added.

“People also want to have spaces that allow somebody without children or grandchildren to be able to have a picnic in the park or take a book outside and read a book or take a dog for a walk or walk themselves,” he said.

Isakov said with a school next to Rochester Park and part of the field co-owned by the school district, having youth and children consulted on the design was a priority.

“One of the things we heard from the children and the school is they want to feel physically challenged,” he said.