Red Morton Park

Red Morton is a family favorite because there’s so much here besides the two playgrounds. There are turf soccer fields you can use when there’s no game on, and lawns to lounge on. Picnic tables and grills make it easy to host a get-together. Older kids can try the small skate park, and there’s a community building you can rent for a party. Everyone in our family finds something to do here.

Magical Bridge Playground

Magical Bridge is fenced, and the ground is rubber and turf. There are bucket swings and regular swings, slides, climbers and spinners, so toddlers and big kids both have plenty to do. It has ramps and accessible equipment too.

There are two water features. The big kids have a rock pile with water running down it. The toddler one is a set of metal basins in tiers. Kids crank a pump to fill the basin, then push plungers to let the water flow down to the next tier. The water shuts off at 6pm.

Buddy has three favorites here. Number one is the metal water basin. He’s just getting tall enough to reach all the plungers that send the water down to the next tier, and sometimes he splashes himself. We have to keep a close eye on him so he doesn’t climb right in!

Next is the blue roller slide. It’s big enough to feel like a challenge, but the rollers slow him down so he never loses control.

His other favorite is the two-person swing. His mom sits on the same swing, facing him, so they can look at each other and laugh while they swing.

Hidden Playground

The Hidden Playground is on the other side of the park from Magical Bridge, tucked between the tennis courts, the soccer field and the community building. It’s slides and climbers on wood chips, aimed at preschoolers and up. It’s not fenced.

It’s much smaller than Magical Bridge, and much less busy. If you want something more low-key, or just a playground that isn’t crowded, this might be your best bet. There’s still plenty to play on, so don’t overlook it!

Around the park

The bathrooms are near Magical Bridge and have a changing table. They’re sometimes locked, though. There’s a water fountain, picnic tables and BBQs, and you can sit on a bench and still see the play area.

There’s a rose garden near the community building, and basketball and tennis courts on the other side of the soccer field.

Dogs have to be on leash and stay out of the playgrounds. If they need to run, there’s a fenced dog park near Magical Bridge where they can be off leash.

Getting there

There are two lots, one off Volta Road and one off St Francis St. The walk from either to the playground is easy with a stroller.

Community events

The park often hosts community events. For Pub in the Park, they put up an inflatable pub with seating inside, so you get some shade and somewhere to enjoy your food and drinks. Several food trucks come too, so you can grab something to eat. We’ve also seen them set up Parkade: a row of shipping containers full of arcade games, ready to play. Check the city’s events calendar for what’s coming up.

The verdict

This is a great park for the whole family, and it works for almost any kind of outing. We’ve been here for kids’ birthday parties, holiday get-togethers, weekend picnics, and weekday evening trips to the playground. It feels very safe, and we’ve never had a bad trip.

Go in the morning or later in the afternoon. Midday can get hot, and the playground doesn’t have a lot of shade.