Pop Up Playground

The Pop-Up Playground was a guided audio experience hosted over 50 times in parks and public spaces across Toronto during the summer of 2021. Designed as a playful intervention in the wake of the pandemic, it offered participants a safe, joyful way to reconnect—with themselves, with others, and with the city around them.

The roots of the Pop-Up Playground trace back to Camp Reset 2018, where we first piloted audio-based experiences. In 2021, with in-person gatherings limited and Camp on pause, we saw an opportunity to bring that format into public space—supporting social recovery through small, outdoor moments of connection.

At a moment when Reset itself was on the brink of closing, our community challenged us to find new ways to bring our values into the world. We chose this project because it was something we could do—outside, safely, and with one person at a time. More importantly, it held the potential to meet a real need: restoring connection after prolonged isolation.

The Pop-Up Playground was co-created with 84 artists, leaders, and community members. Special thanks to Experience Designer Shazia Abji, and the execution team: Adil Dhalla-Kim, Wilson Lin, Amy Tepperman, and the many volunteers who popped up alongside us throughout the summer.

The project was funded through $40,000 in community donations from four major donors. We also offered sliding scale ticketing, with many participants choosing the free option—reflecting our commitment to accessibility and shared abundance.