Rainbow To Rocket: Sunnyside to Parkdale Playground Trail
One of the great things about living in established communities is that you have so many amenities already built and waiting for you to enjoy. (Not to mention the fact that mature trees enhance the streetscape, especially in the summer, when then transform the urban streets into a park-like setting).
One of the things I have learned to appreciate about living in an established community is the number of children’s playgrounds. You can hardly go more than a few blocks before you find another one - in schoolyards, small parks, community centers and even a few hidden back alleys.
There is one amazing playground trail along 5th and 6th Avenues from Sunnyside to Parkdale (25 blocks) that has 11 playgrounds, most along 5th and 6th Aves NW. Grab you bikes, scooter, walking shoes or runners and let’s take the five-kilometre trail from east to west.
Make sure you read to the end to find out where the second secret vintage playground is!
First stop:
Rainbow Arch playground, hidden in the alley of 5th Ave and 9a St NW. It has no official name, but I call it the Rainbow Arch playground, because just a few steps away is a lovely tunnel under the LRT tracks that has been painted the colours of the rainbow. It is a vintage playground (some might say old) with only four pieces of equipment: a swing, slide, teeter-totter and duck to sit/ride It is close to the walkway up the bluff to Rosedale, where you can enjoy spectacular views of downtown, Bow River and Rocky Mountains.
Second Stop:
Riley Park Playground (corner of 5th Ave and 12th St NW). It is a brand new playground with all the bells and whistles. The many shade trees making it a great place for a family picnic. And with the Riley Park wading pool close by, it’s a very popular playground!
Riley Park makes for a great place to relax and enjoy others playing.
Third Stop:
Hillhurst School Playgrounds (7th Ave between 12th and 14th Streets NW). This historic sandstone school has two playgrounds - one for younger children and one for older ones. Its small old soccer field makes it appealing for those who want to kick a ball around.
There is a lovely children’s mural on the east wall.
Fourth Stop:
Bethany Centre Secret Playground (8th Ave at 16th St NW). It is definitely a vintage playground complete with a lovely low white picket fence around it and perfect for very young children. You can’t see it from the street as it is tucked away on the north side of the surface parking lot. It is a lovely setting that makes for a great picnic spot. There is never anyone there but it is beautiful. You might even think it is private property but we have been there many times and nobody has said anything.
Fifth Stop:
Dinosaur Playground at (6th Ave and 18th St NW), is a new playground based on a dinosaur theme in the West Hillhurst Community Centre Park with its baseball diamond, playing fields and Bowview outdoor pool.
Sixth Stop:
Queen Elizabeth Elementary School Playground (2nd Ave and 18th St NW). This large playground has lots of different pieces of equipment to climb and play on. Great seating for adults to sit and watch.
Make sure you checkout the “Let’s Play” Dean Stanton mural on the south wall of the elementary school next to the playground.
Refreshment Time?
Made By Marcus Ice Cream shop is just a block away (2nd Ave and 19th St NW) from the QE School playground. Also along 19th is Dairy Lane (at 3rd Ave) famous for its old fashion milkshakes, or a coffee and snack at Vintage Café (at Kensington Road).
Seventh Stop:
Grand Trunk Park Playground (5th Ave and 23rd St NW). It has a children’s playground, a 3-hoop basketball court and lots of seating including three picnic tables. The larch trees next to the playground are popular for both starter and expert tree climbers. It even has a little history being located next to the historic Grand Trunk School, a one room school house built in 1911. Wander over and read the plaque on its front porch for a few details.
Grand Trunk Park is great for kids that like to climb!
Did someone say snack time?
There is a 7-Eleven currently under construction at the corner of 5th Ave NW and Crowchild Trail (formerly 24th St NW) where you can pick up cold drinks and snacks.
Eighth Stop:
Helicopter Park Playground (5th Ave and 27th St NW), so named because the STARS helicopter often flies over the park enroute to or from the nearby Foothills Hospital. And, yes, the park does have a helicopter that kids can play on. One of the most popular playgrounds in the city, one of its unique features is the paved wiggly bike path for young children to ride around the playground. In the winter, it has a gentle slope down to the playing fields that is a popular place for young ones to sled and toboggan.
Ninth Stop:
Parkdale School Playground (now Westmount Charter Elementary School) Park (5th Ave NW at 30th St). It boasts lots of climbing equipment, as well as picnic tables with built-in game boards for playing chess or checkers.
Tenth Stop:
Train Playground (5th Ave and 34th St NW) which, as the name implies, has a train as one of its key pieces of equipment. Located next to the Parkdale Community Association building, there is also includes an accessible outdoor arena (in the winter) and a lovely community garden (in the summer). The community garden is a lovely place to explore with children.
Bonus: there is a Free Little Library and a bench for a reading break too!
Eleventh Stop:
Rocket Park Playground which like the Rainbow Arch Playground is located in the alley (5th Ave and 36th St). And, it too is a vintage playground with just a few pieces of equipment in a small triangle pocket park. And, you guessed it, it has a rocket ship shaped climbing apparatus.
Update: I recently found out that this vintage playground equipment has been removed as unsafe. Too Bad! Surely there is a way for preserving some of the vintage playgrounds in the city. How unsafe can they really be?
Last Word
Hope you have enjoyed the trip. As the days get longer and warmer, I encourage everyone to get out and walk in their neighbourhood and those adjacent to it. Exploring the off-the-beaten path parks, playgrounds and a few back alleys if you have them. And, yes please come and explore the 5th & 6th Ave NW Playground Trail in my ‘hood.
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