Case Study: La Broquerie Playgrounds, MB
Location: La Broquerie & Marchand , Manitoba
Project Type: Community Playground
Highlights:
- Inclusive Design: Playgrounds for all ages and abilities.
- Community Collaboration: Built with local support and a municipal grant.
- Top-Quality Equipment: Featuring Jambette and KOMPAN play equipment.
- Targeted Play Spaces: Areas designed for both younger and older children.
- Community Impact: New spaces that bring community members together.
In rural Manitoba, the charming towns of La Broquerie and Marchand, rich in cultural heritage and natural landscapes, saw a golden opportunity to build more parks for their growing communities. Driven by a shared vision, dedicated residents and the municipal administration set out to create safe, fun, and inclusive spaces for all to enjoy.
The communities partnered with Parkworks, Western Canada’s happiest full-service park supplier, to bring this vision to life. With a successful grant, municipal support, and Parkworks’ expertise, three vibrant new parks with epic playgrounds are now energizing the region. Two are in La Broquerie—one at the local recreation complex and one off Granger Street—and the third is in Marchand at the community hall. Designed for kids of all ages and abilities, these playgrounds feature top-of-the-line equipment from Jambette and KOMPAN.
Since opening in fall 2022, the playgrounds have made a lasting impact on the communities.
The Challenge
La Broquerie and Marchand, though close neighbours, are separate communities within the same municipality in Manitoba. However, both faced a common challenge: a lack of public playgrounds, as the only available amenities were at the local schools. Taking advantage of a generous grant, the municipal administration launched a project to help boost community engagement and create thriving recreational spaces for residents. The priorities included constructing three park spaces with playground equipment designed to accommodate children of all abilities and age groups. The playful twist? The playgrounds were to incorporate a fun baseball theme to celebrate the local team.
The Solution
Teaming up with Parkworks for an expert solution, the client’s vision of the three park spaces was realized and designs were created to meet the needs of these lively communities. The largest playground in La Broquerie was designed to be fully accessible and inclusive, with play equipment that could entertain kids of all ages. Meanwhile, the two smaller playgrounds were designed with specific age groups in mind—one for younger adventurers aged 2-5 (La Broquerie) and another for the older explorers aged 5-12 (Marchand)—making sure every child in these communities would have a perfect place to play, discover, and grow.
The three playgrounds feature play equipment from industry-leading manufacturers, offering safe, diverse, and thrilling play experiences for all parkgoers. From little ones just discovering their limits to seasoned adventurers eager to test their skills and maximize their fun, incorporating something for everyone was an absolute must. Parkworks always considers safety a top priority, so the playground designs included surfacing that was not only fun but would also safely cushion those inevitable stumbles and tumbles.
The Implementation
Parkworks delivered a turnkey solution that perfectly met the municipality’s needs. Each park space features thrilling Jambette play structures, offering a delightful mix of excitement, challenges, and imagination, ensuring every moment is an adventure. With the goal of taking the experience to the next level, KOMPAN equipment such as swings, spinners, rockers, and percussion musical instruments were integrated to add another layer of play value to each space. These dynamic combinations created playgrounds overflowing with diverse, high-quality recreational options that invite every child to experience the joy of outdoor play.
Recreation Complex Playground - La Broquerie
The largest of the three spaces, this playground takes adventure to new heights! The colourful play structure stands tall, offering kids the chance to test their skills and let their imaginations run wild. Parkgoers of all ages can explore this engaging structure, which features more daring areas for older kids and age-appropriate activities closer to the ground, perfect for little ones just starting to discover their abilities. With nearly 30 different play components, this structure can accommodate up to 91 children and is designed for ages 18 months to 12 years. The best part? It's accessible to everyone.
But wait, there's more! This playground is packed with high-capacity play from end to end. Complementing the enormous play structure are playground favorites that provide a dynamic mix of equipment for all abilities. Kids can rock on the whimsical Blazer seesaw, enhancing their spatial awareness and balance with every move. They can also spin and swirl on the Universal Carousel and Spicas spinners, swing high on the exhilarating swing set, hang from the Triple Somersault Bars, and immerse themselves in the percussion instruments area for exciting musical play.
The playground’s epic safety surfacing, with its racetrack border and baseball theme, ties the entire space together, adding playful details for all parkgoers. A permanent hopscotch design ensures every inch of this playground offers a playful touch.
Granger Street Playground - La Broquerie
The second playground in La Broquerie was built to spark curiosity in the tiniest park enthusiasts. Featuring a smaller play structure that accommodates up to 28 kids, this space encourages cognitive and physical growth through equipment designed for safe and challenging play. Adding to the fun, springers and spinners offer additional inclusive play opportunities. And let's not forget the classic swing set with an exciting twist—a circular bird’s nest swing that's a huge hit with the kids!
Community Hall Playground - Marchand
The final playground, located at the community hall in Marchand, is designed to entertain children aged 5 to 12. The structure here can accommodate up to 33 kids, offering a range of activities like climbing, sliding, running, jumping, and swinging. Popular play elements, such as the Triple Somersault Bars and Spinner Bowls, ensure maximum fun and engagement throughout the space.
The Outcome
This exciting project transformed previously empty spaces into vibrant, inclusive playgrounds, bringing incredible recreational activities to the communities of La Broquerie and Marchand. With three new play areas, the opportunities for free and equitable fun have expanded immensely, making these rural Manitoba communities even more inviting for families to enjoy.
David Little, Leisure Service Coordinator for La Broquerie, perfectly captures the excitement of the grand opening of the recreation complex playground:
“The first day that this opened up, I came here to take some pictures of what was happening, and it was all ages,” said Little. “There was a grandparent couple walking through the middle of it, holding hands, watching their kids play. Just having the ability for everybody to be here, gather, and still access that and enjoy it certainly made it all worthwhile.”
This amazing feedback shows how the new playgrounds have become a special place where all generations can connect and enjoy themselves. The project not only met the needs of these communities but also set a new standard for inclusive play, showcasing Parkworks' dedication to connecting communities through play and social experiences.
Looking to create a fun, inclusive, and active park space for your community? Let our team of experts guide you every step of the way! At Parkworks, we specialize in transforming spaces into thriving community hubs.
Contact us today to start building the park of your dreams!