Eby Farm Play Precinct

Image of a tall play structure surrounded by trees. Father and small child in foreground.

Photo credit: Industryous Photography

Eby Farm Play Precinct

Waterloo, Ontario

Snow Larc was engaged by the City of Waterloo in 2023 to develop it‘s first purpose-built Universally Accessible Playground. The play precinct offers an agrarian-inspired dynamic play environment complemented by cozy, scaled-down areas that provide a gentler sensory experience for those who may feel overwhelmed. The design repsonds to the existing topography, and incorporates changes in elevation as a core feature. Gently sloping walkways and hillsides ensure visitors have options to navigate and experience the playground in a manner that suits their comfort level. The playground opened in May 2023, offering a welcoming space for visitors of all abilities. It quickly became a favorite among the community. Its popularity was so immediate that the City soon commissioned us to design an expansion for the playground which includes an imagination play area, bioswales, pollinator garden, and a new picnic orchard.

The initial phase primarily focused on creating an engaging play space for children aged 5 to 12, regardless of their abilities, along with their families. Notably, the playground features a towering red play structure with rubber safety surfacing on its slopes. Additionally, there are climbing ropes, handholds, a spinner, and a sandbox adorned with playful pig sculptures.

Donors were recognized with plaques incorporated into the design of custom accessible benches. The beloved pig sculptures we salvaged from the former playground and have found a new home within a sand pit, re-imagined as part of the playground’s narrative.