The Casablanca Waterfront Park has transformed landscape architectural and urban design along the shores of Lake Ontario. Spanning from Hunter Road to the Water Treatment Plant east of Casablanca Boulevard, this park in Grimsby, Ontario, Canada has renovated the public space and became a new waterfront destination. The 2.3-hectacre (5.75-acre), $4.8-million redevelopment blends innovation with climate resiliency, accessibility, and inclusivity while achieving new standards for park development excellence in the Niagara Region. In 2025, the project received an Award of Excellence in Landscape Architecture at the Niagara Biennial Awards.

Going Above and Beyond
The Landscape Architects believe that a great play space balances challenge with excitement and some healthy risk taking. At Casablanca Waterfront Park, the design maximized both the number and impact of play elements, ensuring a rich variety of interactions that encourage continuous engagement. Within East Beach, the design team created an innovative, inclusive, and dynamic play environment.

 
Every child should find something that excites them. To address this need, this playground features a fully inclusive junior structure design for children ages 18 months to 5 years and a fully inclusive senior structure for children ages 5 to 12 years. One of the most important considerations involved the CSA Annex H recommendations for inclusivity, which review the overall accessibility of a play space and consider structure access from ground-level transfer components as well as ground-level play types. The number of components required in each CSA Annex H category is determined by the size of the play space. The design of Casablanca Waterfront Park exceeds every requirement.

As visitors enter the play space, they find multiple ways to ascend and a tower that draws them in - including Burke BCI's inclusive Level X Ally and the 10-foot-tall Nucleus Tower. With the AirVenture Glider, users soar through the air, the wind on their face, their feet planted firmly, and their whole body working to glide back and forth. Collaborative play is encouraged, as children need to work together to get and keep the glider moving. While gliding, they work their upper and lower bodies and their core, promoting overall strength and balance. The design incorporates diverse motor and cognitive activities that range from introductory to advanced. Adventure-style equipment allows children to take healthy risks, encouraging problem-solving, decision-making, and personal growth. As the final touch, sensory-rich experiences in the native plantings, pollinator gardens, and swinging bench near the water further set this playground apart.

A Network of Care
The Landscape Architects wanted to ensure that the space serves its users in a meaningful, intentional way. For example, materials were chosen that not only complemented the natural surroundings but also required minimal maintenance, providing long-term value for the community. The layout of amenities was also designed with the user experience in mind, creating cohesive spaces that take sightlines, user comfort, and accessibility into consideration.

In terms of circulation, the design team focused on creating intuitive paths that naturally guide visitors, especially children, through a landscape of discovery. Play areas and interactive features were placed along these pathways to encourage exploration while maintaining ease of movement for all users. Along this same vein, the rest of the park was designed to offer opportunities for adventure and engagement without sacrificing accessibility. This was achieved by integrating universally accessible routes and play equipment that can be enjoyed by all children. In alignment with extensive public consultation, priority was given to maintaining community access to the waterfront pathway throughout the park's construction.

Generational Impact
Casablanca Waterfront Park integrates inclusive design beyond compliance, offering multiple ways to explore, move, and engage. Caregivers are encouraged to join in on the fun, with plenty of opportunities for intergenerational play. Blending into its surroundings while standing out as a community landmark, the park's play space is both striking and welcoming. Thoughtful circulation patterns provide intuitive flow, guiding children through a landscape of discovery. With these principles in mind, Casablanca's park play space will be a place where children aspire, create, and grow - an inspiring destination that brings the community together through the power of play.

As seen in LASN magazine, June 2025.