PARC SAINT-LOUIS-DE FRANCE

Arrondissment: Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge

Address: 1591 Sieur-D’Argenteuil (near the intersection of Chemin Saint-Louis and Route de l’Eglise)

Nearest bus stop: S.-D’Argenteuil (buses 25, 76, 925)

Parking: Free street parking (maximum 2 hours)

Playground surface: Sand

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

Swings? Yes - 2 for babies; 4 for older children

Sandbox? Yes

Splashpad? No

Swimming pool? Yes

Toilets? Yes, but only when the swimming pool is open

Picnic tables? Yes

Other facilities: Basketball court, football (soccer) field, ice rink

What I liked: It’s never busy or crowded - in fact, both times we went we had it all to ourselves. Also, there are plenty of benches around the playground, many of which are in the shade of the trees, so I can sit out of the sun with Penelope while still being able to keep an eye on Sebastian.

What I didn’t like: Nothing.

PARC DES SOURCES

Arrondissment: Sainte-Foy–Sillery–Cap-Rouge

Address: 1140 rue du Capitaine-Bernier

Nearest bus stop: C.-Albanel (bus 14)

Parking: Free street parking

Playground surface: Sand; wood chips

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

Swings? Yes

Sandbox? Yes

Splashpad? Yes

Swimming pool? No

Toilets? Unknown – probably in the main building?

Picnic tables? Unknown – I will check next time.

Other facilities: Basketball courts, beach volleyball court, ice rink, tennis courts.

What I liked: The playground comprises four or five different areas (though I think at least two of them are part of the neighbouring primary school). The sand was the cleanest/least dirty I have seen.

What I didn’t like: The locals seemed a bit snobby - not one but two of them asked me what I was doing there! The splashpad is somewhat basic. There was a lot of litter in it at the weekend.

PARC ROSS

Arrondissment: Sainte-Foy-Sillery-Cap-Rouge

Address: 1290 avenue Ernest-Lavigne (a short drive from Place Ste-Foy on Boulevard Laurier)

Nearest bus stop: M-Victorin (bus 16)

Parking: Free street parking (maximum 2 hours)

Playground surface: Wood chips

Age range: 18 months-5 years

Swings? Yes - 2 for babies; 2 for older children

Sandbox? Yes

Splashpad? No

Swimming pool? No

Toilets? Unknown - probably in the main building?

Picnic tables? Yes

Other facilities: Baseball field, basketball court, ice rink, tennis courts

What I liked: Plenty of shade

What I didn’t like: We found the park looking somewhat scruffy, probably due to lack of maintenance during lockdown, with overgrown grass and weeds along the borders of the playground, but workers were in the process of tidying it up as we were leaving. Also, the design of the playground equipment is a bit confusing, with a odd mismash of themes - the slide is a dragon perched atop a castle, which is linked by a suspension bridge to a pirate ship, which is linked by a balance beam to a crawl tube inside a steam train. There is also a dinosaur spring rider. It’s like it can’t decide what it wants to be - not that the kids even notice!