Construction begins on District of North Vancouver’s first accessible playground

District of North Vancouver has started construction of the new playground at Bridgman Park. It will be completed in March.

The playground is located in Bridgman Park along Mountain Highway, just north of the existing recreation center.

The Bridgman Park is the District’s first completely accessible playground, with recycled rubber surfacing across the entire playground footprint, along with perimeter safety fencing and several seating options throughout the play area.

The playground will include separate play areas for 1 to 3 year olds, 3 to 5 year olds, and five to 10 year olds. Each play area will be anchored by a large multi-level play structure and an assortment of age-appropriate play toys.

The new Bridgman Playground will have several unique play features, including an in-ground trampoline, a zip-line, and an accessible side swing. The design follows principles of universal and inclusive design to meet the needs of children with Autism spectrum disorders, sensory processing disorders, visual impairment, and mobility challenges.

Currently, it features a large, multi-bay swing set, a small two-bay tot swing set, and a multi-level play structure. These features are nearing the end of their lifespan and need to be replaced.

Bridgman Park was revitalized as part of the Keith Road Bridge project in spring 2017, with a focus on protecting and enhancing the creek, riparian, and forest habitat, as well as improving the paths and reconfiguring the driveway and parking.