Address:

Beverly Street & McCaul Street Toronto (Behind the Art Gallery of Ontario at 317 Dundas Street West)

How to Get Here:

By car:  various parking garages around the area and street parking that can be hard to come by mid-afternoon.  3 hour limit for street parking

TTC

Why We Like it:

As you can see from the pictures, this playground is architecturally interesting.  It blends well into the OCAD Campus looming up behind it.

The playground is broken up into one area for the littler kids and one for the bigger kids – both with plenty of crooks and crannies for kids to play in.  The first time we went, all the kids (including my little toddler) stuck to the big kid one (which had me crawling through the rope bridge on my hands and knees trying to retrieve the little one) and the second time they stuck to the little one.  Both playgrounds kept them entertained for hours.

There is a saucer swing, baby swings and big kid swings.  There is also a massive slide, a medium one, and two small ones.  There are rope bridges, ladders and ceilings (how can a rope be a ceiling?  This is a very creative playground!).

Hands down one of the best playgrounds in the city!

Not to mention it has a splash park – a perfect one for little guys because the water only comes up and is not quite as overwhelming as the bigger ones.

There is also a wooden and concrete sidewalk that goes around the entire park – so George was able to scoot to his hearts content.  Gardens, lawn space, and plenty of trees for shade.  Plus two giant sculptures to add to the artistic elements of this park.

All with the AGO to the north and the CN Tower to the south.

Surface:

Wood Chips.

Bathrooms:

There are two public washrooms, washrooms in the community centre on the south end of the park, and washrooms in the AGO.

WHERE TO GET COFFEE?

I discovered this food court, featured on this BlogTO post, on Ritual because it was the closest iced coffee I could pick up for our gang.

This is the amazing part,  at Coffee Exchange, an iced coffee is only $1.50!

$1.50!!!!!!???????

I’m so used to paying $4 for iced coffees – which is ridiculous.

51 McCaul Street

A favourite of mine from Vancouver, I am very excited that this location is around the corner from our new favourite playground.

As you can surmise from the name, it’s a café that serves crêpes.  Nutella and strawberry hooray!  I actually really love their grilled paninis – baguettes grilled down super thin and crispy.

245 Queen West

Pretty simple:  great coffee, in-house brewed beans and treats.

191 Baldwin Street

There are so many places to grab food, have it delivered, ordered ahead, etc.  that this is a great option for an all-day affair.

I shouldn’t tell you this, but there is also a Krispy Kreme at 164 McCaul Street, should the need arise to eat a dozen honey-glazed donuts.

This is a playground you really should check out and will offer your kids hours of fun!  And you a nice coffee break under a tree.

Happy Adventures,

Curious in Wonderland