PARC SAINT-SACREMENT

Arrondissment: La Cité-Limoilou

Address: 1360 boulevard de l'Entente

Nearest bus stop: M-Bourgeoys (buses 79, 807, 907) on Chemin Sainte-Foy

Parking: Free street parking (1 hour maximum)

Playground surface: Wood chips

Age range: 18 months-5 years; 5-12 years

Swings? Yes - 6 for babies, plus an Expression Swing (parent-baby swing); 4 for older children

Sandbox? No

Splashpad? No

Swimming pool? Yes with slides and a paddling pool.

Toilets? Yes

Picnic tables? Yes

Other facilities: Football (soccer); ice rink; petanque terrain; skate ramps.

What I liked: We discovered this playground by accident while waiting for our car to be repaired at Kia. I had to push the babies in their double stroller up a steeeeeeep hill to get there from Boulevard Charest, but it was worth it! As soon as I saw it, I knew Sebastian was going to love it because it has two of his favourite things - a fire truck and a bus stop. I thought it was very cute how the manufacturers have given the equipment a personal touch - the bus stop says “Place d’Youville” and the bus number was the 807.

What I didn’t like: I didn’t have a chance to check out the equipment for over 5s, which is on the other side of the community centre and the swimming pool, but it’s worth noting that if you have a baby/toddler and an older child, you won’t be able to keep an eye on both of them at the same time here. Update: The older part of the playground is not very good.

PARC DU MUSÉE

Arrondissment: La Cité-Limoilou

Address: 255 Grande Allée Ouest, Québec, QC G1R 2H1 (beside the Musée national des beaux-arts)

Nearest bus stop: Buses #11 stops in front of the park, and buses #800, 801, 807 stop just a few minutes walk away.

Parking: Free parking in nearby streets (limited to 90 minutes Monday-Friday, unlimited evenings and weekends) or paid metered parking on the Plains of Abraham.

Playground surface: Wood chips.

Age range: 18 months-5 years; 5-12 years.

Swings? Two for babies, six for older children.

Sandbox? Yes - with lots of shared toys in it.

Splashpad? Yes - nothing fancy, but kids love it! There’s benches for parents to sit on while their kids play in the water.

Swimming pool? Yes - outdoors. It's unheated and small, but great for a quick dip.

Toilets? Yes (handicap accessible)

Picnic tables? Yes.

Other facilities: Pétanque (form of lawn bowling) and 1.4 kilometre gravel and paved paths, where parents and kids can walk, run, bike, or scooter, safe from traffic.

What I liked: I love everything about this park. There are both toddler and bigger kid playground equipment, which is well designed so that toddlers can’t access the big kids’ equipment without having the appropriate climbing skills. There’s also a large climbing rope structure, a type of merry go round" kids can hang from, a huge sandbox, and of course lots of swings. There is ample shade and lots of benches and picnic tables for parents to sit on. It’s big and well spaced out, and in my experience kids don't get bored as there’s lots to explore. The splashpad and pool are a wonderful bonus!

What I didn’t like: It’s a popular park, so it can get busy at times (daycares frequent it during the week, families late afternoons and weekends), but since it’s so big there’s room for everyone. There’s only one bathroom so there’s often a line.

Overview of playground equipment and swings ↓

Playground equipment for toddlers ↓

Playground equipment for older children ↓

Climbing rope structure and "merry go round" ↓

Sandbox ↓

Splashpad ↓

PLACE DE LA FAMILLE 2

Arrondissment: La Cité Limoilou

Address: 250 Wilfrid-Hamel Blvd, Quebec City, Quebec G1L 4W7 (beside the Centre Vidéotron and the Grand Marché de Québec) Nearest bus stop: Buses # 802, 3, 4

Parking: Free parking in parking lot P4 (corner of boulevard Wilfred Hamel and rue Jalobert)

Playground surface: Bouncy synthetic material

Age range: 18 months-5 years; 5-12 years

Swings? None

Sandbox? None

Splashpad? Yes

Swimming pool? None

Toilets? Available at the Grand Marché de Québec, about a two minute walk away (during its opening hours)

Picnic tables? Yes, and many Adirondack chairs

Other facilities: There's a large green space next to the playground with many picnic tables. As well, the Grand Marché de Québec is just a two minute walk away. It's a gourmet food destination, offering a mix of farmer's market, shops, and restaurants. It's a great place to grab lunch or a snack.

What I liked: This playground is truly unique. The main playground equipment (see first two pictures below) is very tall (4.5 metres high), and only appropriate for older kids. There's a very tall, windy slide and a long climbing section.

What I didn’t like: The toddler section of this playground is quite tiny - just one slide and a little playhouse (see third picture below). This playground seems more appropriate for kids comfortable climbing independently, likely about ages four and up.