The City of Windsor will replace 18 playgrounds this summer with modern accessible play structures.
There was $21 million allotted to parks and recreation improvements in the 2023 budget.
Larger, signature parks are being installed at Willistead Park, Gignac Park, and Fred Thomas Park. A new splash pad is also being installed at Fred Thomas Park.
The playground at Willistead Park was designed to mirror the historical features of Willistead Manor and includes features to highlight Walkerville's history.
"The play elements that will be installed here are inspired by the life and the times of the Walker family including Hiram Walker, Edward, Mary and all of the others who played a role in the creation, frankly, of Walkerville and here at Willistead manor," said Windsor Mayor Drew Dilkens.
The themes for the other signature parks have not been revealed yet.
The remaining parks will be smaller neighbourhood parks. But all will be accessible with rubber surfacing. Those include:
Aboriginal Park (2376 Northway Avenue)
· Bradley Park (3460 Cross Street)
· Coletta Park (2979 Coletta Court)
· Cora Greenwood Park (109 Little River Boulevard)
· Devonshire Heights Park (1697 Calderwood Avenue)
· Garwood Park (765 Irvine Avenue)
· Kominar Park (4650 Alpenrose Avenue)
· Lake Laguna Park (5001 Southwood Lakes Boulevard)
· Maple Leaf Park (3974 Maple Leaf Crescent)
· Mayfair Park (2539 Chandler Road)
· McKee Park (3026 Sandwich Street)
· Patrick Maguire Park (3782 Holburn Street)
· Robert McDonald Park (3971 Ypres Avenue)
· Seneca Park (3515 Wildwood Drive)
· Stillmeadow Park (3039 Stillmeadow Road)
Construction on the parks is starting this spring and will continue until the end of summer.
"We're hoping to have all of the playgrounds open by the end of summer. Some are going to open earlier, some are mid-summer but certainly, everything that we do outside is always going to be weather dependent," said Executive Director of Parks and Facilities James Chacko.
The playground at Willistead Park is expected to be completed before Art in the Park which is scheduled for the first weekend in June.