ANDY LIVINGSTONE PLAYGROUND x CROSSOROADS ELEMENTARY

A new park playground for a new school in downtown Vancouver. 

This project post is dedicated to my friend, colleague and mentor Alain Lamontagne. 

Through working with Alain on this project, I learned how to be a Landscape Architect—with his patience, care, professionalism, attention to detail, passion, and the creative freedom he gave me.

Alain's impact and influence is woven into my work. His contribution lives on in the streets, parks, playgrounds, plazas, and gardens he designed—places where people gather, play and rest.

A vibrant urban playground in the heart of the city. The existing playground was in need of an upgrade to fulfill the increased demand, brought forth by the new adjacent K-8 Elementary. 

We faced a unique challenge: designing a new playground that met the school’s needs while also serving as a neighbourhood park in an area with a significant population affected by substance use. In addition to adhering to CPTED (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) principles, one of the most critical design considerations was the choice of surfacing. The site requires frequent inspections by maintenance staff and park rangers—early each morning and throughout the day—to remove syringes, drug paraphernalia, and broken glass.

This former industrial site had been capped to contain contaminants in the 1980s, and the protective barrier—located one metre below grade—could not be disturbed. This required special consideration for underground services and careful coordination with engineers to design custom footings for some of the play structures.

Through creative solutions we were able to design a dynamic and vibrant space for kids of all ages. An open house and meetings with various stakeholders identified key concerns of the existing playground, which informed our ultimate design. Three distinct play zones are connected by serpentine pathway, which provides various textures for sensory and inclusive play. The new embankment has eliminated the hidden site line from an existing wall and provides opportunities for unstructured play. New trees and seating provide resting places for teachers, parents and caregivers to relax in the shade and allow kids to enjoy the playground for extended periods.