Rebuilding High Park’s Beloved Playground: Making It Right for the Kids

When I heard that the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in High Park had been set on fire, I was angry. This playground wasn’t just wood and nails—it was a symbol of community, hard work, and childhood memories. It took two years to build and stood for 14 years, bringing joy to thousands of kids. And in an instant, it was gone. I knew I had to do something about it so work with the community, me and the Holmes crew set out to rebuild the High Park playground.

“It took one kid with a match to burn up all that work that took all that time. But I’ll tell you what—I’m going to put together an army to rebuild this, and we are going to make it right.”

 

And that’s exactly what we did.

 

A Playground Built by the Community, for the Community

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The original Jamie Bell Adventure Playground was special because it was built by the people, for the people. It was Jamie Bell, a local leader, who made it happen—he brought the community together to create something incredible for the kids. They didn’t want just another plastic playground. They wanted something unique—a wooden castle that kids could climb, explore, and make memories in.

So when we started planning the rebuild, I knew we had to honour that legacy. But we also had to listen to the kids. They wanted more space, more slides, and less plastic, so that’s exactly what they got.

The rebuild was a massive undertaking, with over 250 volunteers, including firefighters, city workers, licensed carpenters, and community members, all stepping in to help.

 

 

Despite gruelling long days, heat exhaustion, late nights, and unexpected challenges, the team pushed forward, driven by one mission: giving the kids back their playground.

 

The Best Part? Seeing the Kids Run In

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As the crowd counted down, the gates opened, and hundreds of children rushed in —laughing, climbing, sliding, and making new memories. That’s what this was about.

 

“We do this for them. This is why we were here from the beginning. At the end of the day, this is what matters.”

 

The new Jamie Bell Adventure Playground was designed to stand the test of time, using stronger materials, safer design elements, and improved accessibility—all while keeping the magic of the original castle structure.

 

Watch the full transformation on the Homeful YouTube Channel and see how we rebuilt this playground from the ground up!

 

 

Why This Project Mattered

This wasn’t just about rebuilding a playground—it was about restoring hope. The Jamie Bell Adventure Playground was a symbol of community, resilience, and making things right. For the families who grew up playing here, and for the kids who will enjoy it for years to come, this project was about more than just wood and nails—it was about bringing people together.

I want to thank everyone who helped make this happen. The community, the volunteers, the tradespeople, and my team—you all made a difference.

This is what “Making It Right” is all about.

 

HOLMES MAKES IT RIGHT EPISODES

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If you loved Holmes Makes It Right, you can watch full episodes on the Homeful YouTube channel.

 

 

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