PARC JEAN-ROGER-DURAND

Arrondissment: La Haute-Saint-Charles

Address: 20 boulevard des Étudiants

Nearest bus stop: Aymot (bus 284)

Parking: Free car park across the street

Playground surface: Sand; wood chips

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

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

Sandbox? Yes

Splashpad? Yes

Swimming pool? No

Toilets? Currently has portable toilets (one with a huge hole burned into the back wall!)

Picnic benches? Yes, dirty-looking metal ones covered in graffiti

Other facilities: None

What I liked: The playground equipment looked new and well-maintained. I loved the design of it (I’ve noticed that all the best-looking playgrounds in Quebec City are by the same Lévis-based company, Jambette). Sebastian particularly enjoyed the ‘treehouse’, the insect-themed climbers and the fossil markers on the ground, while I enjoyed watching him in the shade of the stage, where in normal times, there are regular concerts and plays. After he had finished playing, we went for a lovely walk across the river to the Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations in Wendake. I learned from the signs that this area is part of something called the Great Trail of Canada, which is a more or less continuous, 27,000km network of trails running through all 13 provinces and territories.

What I didn’t like: Parts of the pedestrian path are too narrow or uneven for strollers. We tried to walk along the 22km Corridor des Cheminots, which runs through the park, but I felt it was too dangerous to let an unpredictable little toddler loose with all the bikes zooming past so fast.

Sebastian’s ‘treehouse’

The stage separates the playground and the splashpad

The Hôtel-Musée Premières Nations is just across the river

PARC DE LA COLLINE

Arrondissment: La Haute-Saint-Charles

Address: Rue Rouen

Nearest bus stop: Brault (buses 81, 272, 372). Buses zoom past right next to the park so you have to be extra careful getting the kids in and out of the car.

Parking: Free street parking

Playground surface: Wood chips

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

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

Sandbox? Yes

Splashpad? No

Swimming pool? No

Toilets? No, but there was a portable one on the road next to the park.

Picnic tables? Yes

Other facilities: None

What I liked: The playground and the splashpad are right next to each other, so wherever your children go, you can keep them in sight at all times without moving. The splashpad sprays a fine mist of water over the playground, keeping you cool as you sit/stand in the hot sun. There is a pleasant little wooded area behind the playground which would be a lovely spot for a picnic lunch.

What I didn’t like: Very small sandbox.

Sebastian digging in the tiny sandbox

PARC ÉTIENNE-PARENT

Arrondissment: Beauport

Address: 3400 Rue Marie-Louise-Marmette

Nearest bus stop: B. É.-Parent (buses 44 and 55). The buses stop outside the public library, which is directly in front of the park.

Parking: Free car park

Playground surface: Wood chips

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

Swings? Yes – 2 for babies, 2 for older children, plus a parent/toddler swing (see photos)

Sandbox? No

Splashpad? Yes

Swimming pool? Yes

Toilets? Yes, next to the splashpad

Picnic tables? Yes - they are made of stone, which is easy to wipe down before having a picnic.

Other facilities: Basketball court, skate park

What I liked: 2 playgrounds (one for smaller children and one for bigger children), balancing zodak, a climbing caterpillar, a rocking ladybug and a dissy chair (a bucket chair that turns in circles).

What I didn’t like: Only 1 bathroom.