PARC DE LA CHAUMIÈRE

Arrondissement: La Haute-Saint-Charles

Address: 4285 rue René-Chaloult

Nearest bus stop: de l’Astrolabe (buses 274 and 374)

Parking: Free car park or free street parking on rue René-Chaloult

Playground surface: Sand; synthetic; wood chips

Age range: 18 months-5 years. Older children can use the play equipment belonging to the nearby primary school.

Swings? Yes - 2 for babies; 2 for older children. There are also more swings in the school playgrounds.

Sandbox? Yes

Splashpad? No

Swimming pool? No

Toilets? Yes - but a sign on the door stated that they were exclusively for the use of day camps. I’m not sure whether they are available to everyone outside the summer season.

Picnic tables? Yes

Other facilities: Basketball court; (soccer) field; ice rink What I liked: Built in 2020, this is the newest playground we’ve visited so far. The design is visually striking, colourful and fun. There is also a big sandbox with a “sculpture workshop” table.

What I didn’t like: There are little green granules in the synthetic grass that smaller babies might pick up and eat. After doing a bit of research, I’ve learnt that this infill - which weighs the grass down, protects it from discolouration and stains and prevents the growth of bacteria - is safe for human and animal consumption but some parents might not feel comfortable taking that risk.

PARC NOIREFONTAINE

Arrondissment: Sainte-Foy-Sillery-Cap-Rouge

Address: rue Noirefontaine

Nearest bus stop: de la Sapinière (buses 14, 15, 215, 915)

Parking: Free street parking

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? No

Swimming pool? No

Toilets? No

Picnic tables? Yes

Other facilities: None

What I liked: At the end of 2015, the Quebec government invested $637,000 to create or renovate a number of playgrounds in the arrondissement of Sainte-Foy-Sillery-Cap-Rouge. This was one of them. (If you’re interested, the others were Doré, Plateau, Saint-Michel, Anse de Sillery, Fort, Malraux, Bélair and our local one Notre-Dame-de-Foy - but I haven’t had a chance to visit all of them yet). It is one of the prettiest parks we have been to so far, bordered by woodland on one side. The railway-themed play structures have interactive panels with real train noises, which is something I haven’t found anywhere else.

What I didn’t like: Nothing.

PARC ARMAND-PARIS

Arrondissment: Beauport

Address: 840 Rue Pirauble

Nearest bus stop: Sadly this park is not accessible by bus without walking for 22 minutes. Parking: Free street parking

Playground surface: Wood chips

Age range: 12 months and up

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

Sandbox? Yes

Splashpad?No

Swimming pool? No

Toilets? No

Picnic tables? Yes

Other facilities: Wooded area with trails near by, accessible by the bicycle path.

What I liked: This park has a very nature feel to it. There is a lot of shade given by surrounding trees which make it great for babies to play on the grass away from the direct sun. The sandbox has a box with “park toys” which is convenient for parents to not have to bring toys with them. There are 2 playgrounds (one for older kids with difficult climbing) and one for toddlers that is still nicely set up and not “dull”.

What I didn’t like: The only thing I didn't like was a lack of picnic tables. There was several benches but only 1 picnic table.