The Children's Garden

In the heart of Toronto’s Don Valley, on the grounds of a revitalized brick factory, the Children’s Garden at Evergreen Brick Works is a 14,000 sq. ft. outdoor play and learning space that brings together children, nature, and community — offering a glimpse of what the future of urban public space can be: natural, inclusive, imaginative, and climate resilient. Here, the landscape is designed not just for play, but as a living system that grows, evolves, and helps build resilience in the face of a changing climate. 

This vibrant space is part of Evergreen’s bold vision to reimagine children’s outdoor play spaces for a climate-ready future; welcoming thousands of students, educators and families all year round to explore, splash, dig, climb, garden and create through joyful, hands-in-the-dirt experiences. 

Rooted in over 30 years of experience in school ground greening and outdoor learning, the garden is designed to support children’s growth, creativity, and well-being. It also serves as a living example of nature-based climate solutions — featuring low-impact materials, cooling shade from dense vegetation, and spongy landscapes like gardens and greenways that soak up rainwater and help prevent flooding. 

A natural oasis in the heart of the city, the Children’s Garden is a living and evolving laboratory that demonstrates what’s possible when we design public spaces with — and for — children: spaces that are child-friendly, accessible, and ready for a changing climate 

Play at the Children’s Garden 

Drawing on David Sobel’s seven childhood play themes — like adventure, fantasy, and animal allies — the space offers layered, open-ended experiences that invite self-directed, whole-body learning. 

More than a static playground, the Children’s Garden is a living, evolving place — constantly shaped by weather, plant cycles, and children’s imaginations. This changeability fosters a sense of wonder and keeps children coming back to see what’s new. Every visit offers fresh opportunities for connection, exploration, and delight. Risky play is not only allowed but encouraged, in an environment that’s design to be as safe as necessary, not as safe as possible. 

Ecology at the Children’s Garden

Our urban agriculture beds within the garden offer space to grow familiar veggies and herbs. Garden spaces like these can play a vital role in bringing together community members to work to grow food collectively. They can also teach us some valuable lessons on the value of farms and protected local agricultural land, which are able to produce food on a much larger scale.

Located inside the Children’s Garden, the Guild Garden is designed with children in mind. Made possible by support from Forester’s Financial, the garden is built around a central cherry tree surrounded by many species of plants (including fruit shrubs, berries, vegetables and herbs) to create a rich and diverse garden for children to explore. The plants chosen for this garden support beneficial insects, help deter pests and protect the soil.

Lining the alley leading up the garden, stockpots and metal container were installed in 2021 by Foresters Financial, to showcase a regenerative landscape, while also providing food for both pollinators and people. The art on the planters was designed by Délı̨nę First Nations artist and printmaker Laura Grier.

Milkcrate containers are a legacy left over from the Bowery Project, which seeks to set up mobile urban farms by setting up container gardens in urban lots. Initially installed in 2015 with an urban agriculture focus, the milkcrates were revitalized in 2023 into a native container garden concept. This project aims to demonstrate to visitors that native plant gardens can be planted anywhere, even without a yard. The containers also aim to model the creation of green corridors that connect fragmented pieces of habitat throughout the city; to this end they were planted out with plants donated by Project Swallowtail, which aims to connect greenspaces across the city.

The milkcrate containers in the alley contain edible native plant species. In 2023 they were planted out with the following:

• Anise Hyssop (Agastache foeniculum)
• Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata)
• Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata)
• Violets (Viola labradorica)
• Wild Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)