BDI Play Designs

Canadian Playground Planning & Activity Resources

A playground keeps paying off long after installation day when the people using it know how to get the most from it. These free, Canadian-developed resources help schools, municipalities, daycares and community groups plan inclusive play spaces and get more children active on the equipment they already have.

BDI Play Designs is not affiliated with these organizations. We share them because they answer questions our customers ask before and after a build.

Planning an inclusive playground

Inclusive design starts well before equipment is chosen: who will use the space, how they will reach it, and how children of different abilities will play together once they arrive.

  • Inclusive Playgrounds Playbook(opens in a new tab)

    Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities

    Guidance for communities planning play spaces that welcome children of different abilities.

    Useful for: Early planning, community engagement and setting accessibility goals for a new or renewed playground.

Getting more children active on the playground

Equipment is only half of what a playground is worth. Structured activities and peer leadership help more children use it, and use it more often.

  • Playground Circuits(opens in a new tab)

    Learning in Motion

    A library of ready-to-use activities for the school day, including a Playground Circuits activity booklet that turns existing playground equipment into fitness and movement-skill stations.

    Useful for: Teachers and recreation staff who want structured activities on the equipment a school already has.

  • Playground Activity Leaders in Schools (PALS)(opens in a new tab)

    City of Toronto

    A peer leadership program that trains students in grades 4 to 6 to plan and lead games at recess, encouraging participation and a sense of belonging.

    Useful for: Schools that want more children joining in at recess, not only the most confident players.

From planning to play

Ready to turn a plan into a playground? Read what makes a playground truly inclusive, browse accessible & inclusive play equipment, or see how St. Mary’s Accessible Playground came together.

Start a playground design →