New Communication Boards for Playgrounds

A playground communication board mounted on wooden posts in an outdoor park setting. The board displays illustrated icons with words and phrases to help children communicate, such as “Happy,” “Sad,” “Help,” “Water/Drink,” “Snack/Food,” “Slide,” “Swings,” numbers, colours, and letters of the alphabet.

The City of St. John’s is helping make playgrounds even more welcoming, inclusive, and fun with the installation of new playground communication boards across the city.

A total of 30 boards have been developed as part of this initiative:

24 boards have been installed in City-owned playgrounds, with Bowring Park to follow.
5 boards are being donated to community organizations that supported funding, design, or serve children who will benefit directly, including the Autism Society, Ronald McDonald House, Easter Seals, the Janeway, and the Association for New Canadians.

These boards are designed to support inclusive play, social interaction, language development, and new ways to communicate with friends and caregivers. One side of each board features common playground words and symbols, while the other provides instructions for use.

This project was made possible through the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador’s Accessibility Grant and with support from the City’s Inclusion Advisory Committee, who played a key role in the design process.

Residents are encouraged to share feedback on these communication tools, or on accessibility in general, by contacting inclusion@stjohns.ca.

Playgrounds with new communication boards include:

Bannerman Park, Military Road
Brophy Place Park, 31 Brophy Place
Buckmaster’s Rotary Park, 25 Buckmasters Circle
Cowan Park, 62 Canada Drive
Drake Crescent Park, 21A Drake Crescent
Cashin Avenue/Vimy/Froude Park, 59 Froude Avenue
Galway Village Green, 35 Claddagh Road
Goulds Recreation Complex, 509 Main Road
Kelly’s Brook Park, 54 Hoyles Avenue
Kenmount Terrace Community Centre, 85 Messenger Drive
Kenny’s Pond Park, 115 MacDonald Drive
Kilbride Lions Community Centre, 34 Fahey Street
Larch Park, 66 Carpasian Road
McNiven Park, 108 McNiven Place
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Playground at the new H.G.R. Mews Community Centre, 60 Blackler Avenue
Paul Reynolds Community Centre, 35 Carrick Drive
Quidi Vidi West Park, 66 The Boulevard
Harry Yetman Shea Heights Park, 85 Linegar Avenue
Southlands Community Centre, 40 Teakwood Drive
Spruce Meadows Park, 56 Stirling Crescent
St. Mary’s Park, 124 Waterford Bridge Road
Torngat Crescent Park, 46 Torngat Crescent
Victoria Park, 34 Sudbury Street
Wishingwell Park, 15 Terra Nova Road
Bowring Park (awaiting installation), 305 Waterford Bridge Road