The finishing touches are still being made to Parc de Deauville in Pierrefonds’ western end, but families and kids of all ages are already raving about the new play structures.

After having undergone a complete renovation, the park is now home to an impressive nature-inspired adventure playground — dubbed “Quebec’s largest” by the playground’s designer TechSport. Aimed at a wide range of ages, from toddlers to young adults, the space boasts natural wood equipment from Ontario-based Earthscape Play that encourages movement and exploration.

If you like the redone Parc des Compagnons-de-Saint-Laurent in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough, you’ll love this park. Bigger, taller, and even more challenging, its design is exciting and creative. There are huge logs to cross, overhead apparatus, a triple-decker tower, ladders, nets, and even a slackline! Older kids can traverse the log piles in a myriad of ways, and clamour up the inside of the tower to zip back down the whirly-twirly slide.

Play structures

Nearby is the toddler area (on sand) where a smaller log structure and Earthscape’s Junior Tower gives little ones the chance to test out their balance, swing, climb, and use their imaginations.

Both my kids (10 & 14) were enthralled by the 12-feet high Summit Boulder from outdoor fitness equipment company TrekFit. Using the hand and footholds, they scaled to the top and then dared us adults to do the same. In the same area is the always popular Bamboo Jungle and the tall Cargo Net. If you’re not sure what to do or are looking for alternative exercises or movement skills, info panels near the equipment will help guide you.

Once you’ve worked up a sweat, the lovely splash pad invites users to dance under the sprays and spend some quiet time lounging nearby.

Everything at Parc de Deauville is very different than the usual post-and platform equipment seen in most playgrounds and makes this a park to add to your summer to-do list.

PARC DE DEAUVILLE

Address: 18020 Gouin Blvd. W., Pierrefonds

THINGS TO NOTE:

• The playground is on wood chips and sand. There is no fencing.
• There is no shade over the various play areas (but there is near the soccer fields).
• The splash pad should be functional from 9am-9pm daily. (Hours are subject to change). Press the sensor on the post to turn on the timed water sequence.
• The park has a limited number of swings but does include one adaptive swing. However, there is no cutout in the concrete border for easy access into the swings area.
• There are outdoor bathrooms, but they must be manually unlocked by a city employee each day. No opening hours are posted.
• A drinking fountain is located near the north end of the park, near the bathrooms.
• A large parking lot is located just off Gouin Blvd.
• Some of the site’s new furnishings didn’t weather their first winter too successfully, so hopefully a crew will be by to give them a touch up.