Canadian dad designs and builds playset for daughter as local parks shut due to COVID-19

This Toronto father spent three weeks designing and building a playset from scratch for his daughter.

Chris Chimienti produced this playset after all the toy shops sold out due to the COVID-19 pandemic and all the local parks were out of use.

Footage shows Chimienti construction process from start to finish where he is seen measuring and cutting pieces of timber and then constructing them over a three week period in June this year.

Chimienti explained: "With the spread of COVID-19 and the subsequent closure of local parks and public spaces, I couldn't bring my daughter out to enjoy a summer day at the playground.

"When searching for playsets online, it seemed that everyone else wanted to do the same thing as everything was out of stock.

"Hoping to make her summer special, I set out to bring the playground home by designing and building her a playset in our own backyard instead of buying one.

"Lumber was still readily available and so were individual swings and a few other small parts.

"I also managed to pick up a slide from a co-worker whose kids were older and had outgrown it.

"In a few afternoons, I had her new playground built and ready for her to enjoy!

"I wanted to share my design with other parents to hopefully inspire them to build one too if they can't find them in stock during this pandemic.

"Hopefully more kids still get to enjoy their summer despite the lockdowns and closures!" 16-month-old daughter, Alexandria, was thrilled with the result and can even communicate with her parents through sign language that she has been taught by her mother.

Alexandria uses sign language to tell her parents that she wants to play on the swing, which is her favourite feature.

"[The] first thing she does in the morning is: go to the back window and point out to the swing in the yard and tell us she wants to go play with it," Chimienti also said.