MacPherson Park Inclusive Playground
MacPherson Park is being transformed into a fully accessible, inclusive, destination-style play space that will serve families of all abilities for years to come. With support from Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities and Municipal funding, the new park will be rebuilt in 2026 and designed to offer a high-quality, barrier-free experience for residents and visitors.
This project aims to create a signature recreation space on Kincardine’s waterfront - one that reflects community priorities, modern accessibility standards, and long-term durability.
Why This Project Matters
The current playground equipment is aging and no longer meets the needs of today’s families. With new funding opportunities through Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, the Municipality has the chance to create a more inclusive play space - one that will support physical activity, sensory play, social interaction, and accessibility for children of all abilities.
Help us Shape the Vision for MacPherson Park
Redesign Renderings
The images shown are concept examples only and are not pictures of what will be built. These renderings will be available as visual tools to help spark conversation and gather feedback on what features the community values most and what makes a great park.
They are intended to help compare ideas such as overall layout, play styles, and types of features - not colours or final design details. Community feedback will be used to inform future design options.
Monday, January 12, 2026
Public Engagement Session
Public Engagement Session
Date: Monday, January 12, 2026
Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Location: Davidson Centre — Bruce Telecom Room
A well-attended public engagement session was held on January 12, 2026, to gather community feedback on the future of the MacPherson Park playground. There was also an online feedback portal available for a two-week period.
At the session, residents were invited to share ideas and vote on high-level design concepts using interactive boards and Dotmocracy. The survey and session focused on overall direction rather than final playground details, helping inform early concept development.
Engagement Session Follow-up
What We Heard
Thank you to everyone who attended the first engagement session for the MacPherson Park Inclusive Playground. Participants reviewed several concept mock-ups and shared feedback on what matters most in an inclusive play space.
Common design considerations shared by participants included:
- Ramped Structure was the most popular design
- Need more swings and more variety of swing types
- Shade within the play area is very important
- Opportunities for Accessible access to the playground
Accessibility and inclusion remain core requirements of this project. The playground must include elements that support physical and sensory play and allow children using mobility devices to play alongside friends and family.
Based on the feedback received, one concept generated the highest level of interest and will be used as a starting point as design work continues. Community input from this session will help inform Kincardine’s concept options.
Project notes:
- No trees are planned to be removed as part of this project.
- The playground will remain within its current footprint (focusing on the upper area of the park).
Additional opportunities for public input will be shared as the project progresses. Next steps will include consultation with school groups, AAC and Jumpstart. Once 2 possible designs are solidified, a public survey will be available for selection of the playground to be installed.
Concept with the most Community Interest
This image represents the concept that received the highest level of interest during the first public engagement session. It is a preliminary example only and is being used to help illustrate general layout and play-style preferences identified by the community.
Please note, this is not the final design and does not reflect confirmed features, materials, or colours. Community feedback, technical review, budget considerations, and consultation with funding partners, schools, and accessibility committee will continue to inform future design options.
Contact the Project Team
Mike Di Giovanni
Manager, Parks and Facilities
Municipality of Kincardine
519-396-3491 x 7315
Luke Bedard
Director of Community Services
Municipality of Kincardine
519-396-3468 x 7152
Contact Us
The Municipality of Kincardine
1475 Concession 5, R.R.
#5, Kincardine, ON N2Z 2X6
Phone: 519-396-3468
F.: 519-396-8288
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