Featured Project: Element Park

When planning amenities for a brand-new neighbourhood, the City of St. Albert wanted Element Park to feel welcoming, natural, and built for everyday family use. Located alongside a community walkway, the playground needed to offer engaging play for children, comfortable places for parents and guardians, and materials that complemented the surrounding environment. 

The city specifically requested a KOMPAN Robinia playground, bringing natural materials and durable play value into the design. Building from that vision, Parkworks helped create a space that invites children to climb, balance, spin, imagine, and explore, while giving families a place to gather and enjoy the outdoors together. 

Working closely with Wilco Construction, the Parkworks team helped bring the new park to life with active play features, quieter spaces, accessible surfacing, and site furnishings. Installation of the playground equipment and site furnishings went smoothly, helping the full park experience come together as planned. 

A Parkour 2 play structure, specifically requested by the city, became a standout feature, offering school-age children an exciting challenge through climbing ropes, nets, and varied pathways. The Triple Balance Beam, Waterlilies Balance Posts, Spinner Plate, and Snail Springer add more opportunities for movement, coordination, and confidence-building, while the Playhut, Music Play Panel, and Kids Table create quieter moments for rest, social interaction, and imaginative play. 

Comfort for parents and guardians was also part of the design. The Hammock, another city-requested feature, provides a relaxed place for caregivers to rest while staying close to the action, helping make the park more enjoyable for the whole family. 

Engineered wood fibre (EWF) from Fibar was selected as the playground surfacing, adding a natural material that complements the Robinia structures. Designed to knit together, the EWF surface helps absorb impact from falls while supporting wheelchair accessibility. 

Around the playground, DuMor site furnishings help complete the space, including accessible picnic tables, several benches, a bike rack, and litter receptacle. Together, these elements support everyday use and create a cohesive neighbourhood amenity that feels warm, durable, and connected to its surroundings. 

The new playground at Element Park adds a fresh layer of activity to a growing St. Albert neighbourhood, building on the park’s existing hockey rink and climbing wall. With places to climb, spin, balance, rest, and gather, it gives families more ways to enjoy the park, stay a little longer, and make outdoor play part of their everyday routine!

Project Partners:

• City of St. Albert
• Wilco Construction