The playground replacement at Samuel Spicer Park created an accessible, inclusive and fun play area designed to accommodate children and families of all abilities. The playground is wheelchair accessible with rubber fall surfacing and some unique features and activities. There is also a large shade gazebo with picnic tables.
About the park
Samuel Spicer Park, built in 1992, is one of our oldest playgrounds and was ready for an update and required some significant repairs. In 2025, we asked residents to share their ideas and priorities. The final design reflects what we heard from the community.
Between July 9 and September 8, 2025, Cochrane invited community input through the Let’s Talk Cochrane website by launching a short online survey called Shaping Tomorrow’s Parks. The survey focused on gathering residents’ perspectives on how to reimagine and improve the playground and green space at Samuel Spicer Park.
The Samuel Spicer Playground & Park What We Heard Report (PDF) summarizes the key findings from the survey. Mainly, residents value their local, accessible playgrounds. Popular playgrounds combine quality equipment with neighbourhood integration: safe, walkable, scenic and family-focused.
Cochrane’s playground lifecycle program
Cochrane is home to 44 playgrounds, many of which are reaching the end of their usable life. To plan ahead and support active play in every neighbourhood, the Town launched the Playground Lifecycle Program in 2022. This long-term program replaces or updates at least one playground each year so families can continue to have access to safe, inclusive places to play.
Centennial Park was the first playground to be renewed through the program. Samuel Spicer Park was the sixth replacement project. Other completed projects include West Valley tot lot, Matt Krol, Bow Meadows and Wearmouth playground.
Funding
The Playground Lifecycle Program combines Town funding with grants and community support. For Samuel Spicer Park replacement, the Town partnered with Variety – the Children’s Charity for the third time. Together, the Town and Variety secured a $125,000 matching grant from Alberta's Community Facility Enhancement Program to support the playground replacement at Samuel Spicer Park. Additionally, Variety actively fundraised to support this project.
The Town of Cochrane and Variety – the Children’s Charity of Alberta, recognizes the many organizations and community partners whose contributions helped bring this project to life. Special thanks to Inter Pipeline and Ledcor Group, along with the local service clubs, foundations and businesses that contributed to the project, including the Government of Alberta, the Government of Canada, Cochrane Foundation, Bow RiversEdge Campground Society, Rotary Club of Cochrane, Cochrane Lions Club, Kiwanis Club of Cochrane, Alberta Tire Recycling, Volker Stevin, Heidelberg Materials, JCL Construction Inc., Clintar Landscape Management, Barkman, Bravura Engineering Inc., Cardel Homes and CLS Landscape Supply
If you would like to donate or get involved for future Variety projects, visit: Variety Alberta — The Children's Charity of Alberta
