This is my completely biased ranking of the best playgrounds in West Rouge. In all honesty, though, each playground is great in its own right; except Bob Lopston which thankfully is getting an overhaul by the city.
My ranking system is based on how much fun a game of the “floor is lava” can be had with my kids.
It’s one thing to yell the floor is lava, counting down from 3 and watch them scramble to a safe spot that won’t eliminate one of their 3 chances. It’s another to shout out “anything green is lava” and see the panic in their eyes when there is only one green section on the playground and three of them trying to all fit on it!
So, with my game explained, below is my list of the best playgrounds in West Rouge.
Kirkdene Park
Our nickname: The Green Park
Located at the corner of Kirkdene Dr and Island Rd, Kirkdene Park has a great playground. It’s great for its expansive lawn to run around and play games or for a lazy afternoon picnic.
The playground has a cool obstacle bridge that connects the big slide platform to the little slide platform. There are plenty of swings, a teeter-totter, some spinney thing that will make kids dizzy enough to walk sideways and, a really cool spider web climbing wall.
Definitely a fun playground!
Rosebank Park
Our nickname: The Train Park
I know, I know! Rosebank Park is not in West Rouge… but, since the kids and I stumbled upon it during an exploratory bike ride, it’s our favourite playground for playing the floor is lava.
We affectionately refer to it as “The Train Park” since the GO trains wizz by regularly during the early part of the evening when school is out and people make their way home.
It has a cool fish net climbing dohickey, monkey bars, spinning monkey bars, a nicely shaded elevated gazebo connected to a bridge where the double slide is.
Oh, and one of those spinney things to make the kids dizzy.
This is by far our favourite playground to play the floor is lava!
West Rouge Jr. Public School
Our nickname: The School Park
With 3 slides, a fire fighter pole, climbing cargo net, mini rock-climbing wall, a step-bridge, monkey bars, and climbing – thing, this park is becoming our go-to playground.
There is also a total bonus with the driveway recently being redone. My kids now have somewhere close-by to practice their penny-board skills!
