PARC MAURICE-LORTIE

Arrondissement: Charlesbourg

Address: 130 50e Rue Est

Nearest bus stop: 52 Rue E (buses 331, 530, 801)

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

Sandbox? Yes

Splashpad? No

Swimming pool? Yes, with attached paddling pool

Toilets? Unknown - probably in the pool building?

Picnic tables? Unknown - will check next time.

Other facilities: Baseball field, basketball court, beach volleyball court, ice rink, petanque terrains, skate park, tennis courts

What I liked: The distinctive red-and-turquoise Little Tikes playground equipment had things I have never seen anywhere else, things I don’t know the name for, things I had no idea how to use. There was also an Expression Swing for parents and babies (see below). I first heard about these on a website called Stroller Parking, which reviews playgrounds in the Montreal area, and had been wondering why we didn’t have any in Quebec City, so I was very excited to try it. Both Sebastian and Penelope loved it!

What I didn’t like: Nothing.

The Expression Swing - the manufacturers, GameTime, claim it promotes ‘emotional bonding’ between parent and child.

PARC CHAUVEAU

Arrondissement: Les Rivières

Address: 3175 avenue Chaveau (Pavillon de service) or 3705 avenue Chauveau (Centre communautaire Michel-Labadie)

Nearest bus stop: Chauveau/5131 (buses 74, 274, 290, 574, 804)

Parking: Free car parks at both entrances

Playground surface: Wood chips

Age range: 5-12 years.

Swings? No

Sandbox? No

Splashpad? No

Swimming pool? Yes, there is an indoor pool in the Centre communautaire Michel-Labadie

Toilets? Yes

Picnic tables? Yes

Other facilities: Football (soccer) pitches, ice rink, skate park, cross-country ski trails. It’s also home to Sarbayä, the ‘treetop adventure park’.

What I liked: This quiet, peaceful woodland, which forms one of the 13 sectors of the Parc linéaire de la Rivière-Saint-Charles, covers 146 hectares and contains nearly 5 kilometres of walking trails - some of which are accessible with a stroller. It also offers canoeing, kayaking and fishing in the summer and cross-country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter.

What I didn’t like: The playground, was, well...disappointing. I think it might be fun for older children, but for younger ones, it doesn’t have much to offer. There is no sandbox, no swings, no splashpad. Also, there are only two benches next to the playground, one of which is not in the shade.

Map of Parc Chauveau from ville.quebec.qc.ca

PARC VICTORIA

Arrondissment: La Cité-Limoilou

Address: 6 rue Robert-Rumilly

Nearest bus stop: Parc Victoria (buses 3, 4, 28, 64, 65, 74, 82, 84, 86, 801, 931)

Parking: Free car park at 1 rue du Cardinal Maurice Roy (maximum 1 hour)

Playground surface: Rubber

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

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

Sandbox? No

Splashpad? Yes

Swimming pool? Yes, there is an indoor pool called Piscine Lucien-Flamand, which is in the CPF Wilbrod-Bherer. There is also an outdoor pool nearby at Marina St-Roch on rue du Pont, just across the bridge (Passerelle Adrien-Pouliot).

Toilets? Yes

Picnic tables? Yes

Other facilities: Baseball field, basketball court, beach volleyball court, football (soccer) pitches (1 grass, 1 synthetic), ice rink, skate park, tennis courts.

What I liked: The playground is probably the best I have seen, with the largest variety of equipment, some of which is accessible by ramp for wheelchair users - though it should be noted that most of it is suitable for 5-12 year olds only. There is a smaller playground for younger children on the other side of the park, near rue Chênevert, but it’s pretty basic.

What I didn’t like: Before COVID-19, I could never find a parking space. The dedicated car park outside Stade Canac (the baseball stadium)/Club Social Victoria was nearly always full by the time I got there. I used to park on the street (avenue Simon-Napoléon Parent) near the playground, but that’s no longer allowed.

Tip: You fancy a nice walk, you can cross the bridge (Passerelle des Trois-Soeurs) to the Parc linéaire de la Rivière-Saint-Charles, a 32km trail, which follows the river from its source at Lac Saint-Charles to its mouth near the Old Port.