Colwood’s Quarry Park in the Royal Bay neighbourhood is getting a new playground slide after safety concerns and injuries forced the removal of two previous versions. Installation of the redesigned slide started on July 20, 2026, with the city saying the provider has changed the slope and angles for better safety.
The original metal spiral tube slide was closed on June 11, 2025, and taken out on July 8, 2025, following two incidents that left users with broken legs. One injury happened to Langford mother Sarah Lalonde, who suffered a spiral fracture on June 2, 2025, while riding down with her four-year-old son. She described the turn as a whip and said she heard the crack and the break. A three-year-old boy also broke his leg on the slide earlier.
The City of Colwood has said the slide was designed and safety certified for children aged five to 12, and both injured individuals were outside that range. New interactive signs have been installed at the playground to make the age restriction clear.
A first attempt to replace the slide happened in March 2026, but the new section was removed days later because the playground provider, Kinsol, said it did not meet required specifications. The latest version has modified features aimed at preventing the kind of fast, sharp turns that led to the earlier injuries.
Quarry Park opened in April 2025 as the largest playground in the Capital Regional District, featuring a three-level castle, pirate ship, and other play equipment. The park spans six acres and also offers a bike pump track, green space, and trail connections. The city says the new washroom facility is nearly done, and an expansion adding sports fields and more amenities is planned.
