The first time we visited Borden Park we almost didn’t find the playground!
There’s so much to see in this stunning East-central Edmonton park that you can easily overlook the nature-themed playground – but you shouldn’t! More on that in a minute.
On our first visit we parked near the Borden Park Natural Outdoor pool and started to wander the beautiful grounds. It was a gorgeous winter day so the fountains weren’t running, but the kaleidoscope of colour that is the Vaulted Willow sculpture caught our eye from a distance. We enjoyed spirited games of hide & seek and tag before we started to tromp through the snow to check out some of the other public art that’s on display throughout the park.
That’s when a giant mother bear and her cubs caught our eye.
It’s easy to see why Borden Park Playground blends into its surroundings. The playspace is a stark contrast from the colour of the Vaulted Willow – in a good way! The three spacious parks will make you feel like you’ve uncovered a secret treehouse in the woods.
The toddler park is the most visually appealing with the aforementioned mother bear and cubs, as well as a coiled snake – both make excellent climbers. There’s a busy beehive at the centre of the platform and two small slides.
Adjacent to the toddler park is a unique structure featuring two peaks. There’s a slide at the far end and several different options for climbing up onto the platforms, which are connected by a roller coaster-like “track” for scrambling up and down.
There are monkey bars, a handful of spinners, a cable climber and tightrope, tree trunk hoppers, as well as two toddler swings and four “big kid” swings; all of it set in wood chips with wooden bridges connecting each park.
Our favourite part is the largest central structure. It looks like a giant tree that’s been hollowed out, with a playhouse build around it. I count at least 8 ways to climb up, 4 slides, and two squirrels carved into the decor! (can you find them?)
Borden Park Playground is surrounded by plenty of benches, picnic tables and even a sheltered picnic space. During the summer it will make a brilliant outing paired with a trip to the pool. Walk straight west into the park and you will find the Borden Park Pavilion, a large, round, mirrored building – inside are bathrooms, water fountains, picnic tables and even pop machines.
Don’t forget to pop by the Vaulted Willow for hide & seek, tag and photo ops!
Borden Park Playground:
Where: 7507 Borden Park Road, Edmonton (map)
Website: www.edmonton.ca