The District of Sparwood is investing $287,000 to upgrade playground facilities within the municipality throughout September and October 2015.

Improved playground equipment will be installed at Cypress Park, Central Park, Juniper Park, Lions Park and on the Leisure Centre Grounds.

The work is in line with council’s Corporate Strategic Plan goal to have an active, involved and healthy community, and the OCP objective to encourage an active and healthy community through the development, maintenance, and enhancement of high-quality parks, passive and active recreational facilities and programs, and active transportation infrastructure.

The project timeline will incorporate salvage and demolition of current equipment and replacement with new and improved items, with some of the existing equipment being retained and incorporated into the new designs. All work will be carried out by BDI Play Designs.

The planned playground designs were decided upon through a community engagement process culminating in votes being placed on the favourite designs during the 2015 Coal Miner’s Day event.

“This is an exciting project and directly linked to the public consultation that took place during the OCP development process and also Council’s Strategic Plan so we will be delighted to see it come to fruition,” said Mayor Cal McDougall.

“We understand that there will be some inconvenience for regular users of the facilities but we are confident that the new improved playgrounds will be well worth waiting for and expect to see an increase in use once they are open.”

Notices will be posted at each site advising the public of the work and the District of Sparwood ask that residents avoid entering the playground areas while work is being completed.

Duane Lawrence, Director of Community and Facility Services said: “We are very excited about the new playgrounds which will be installed this Fall. Once the work is complete there will be a great mix of interactive play equipment for all ages that will have a long life and we expect a huge amount of use. We are all looking forward to the official opening of all the locations later this year.”

For more information or to see the playgrounds that will be installed visit www.sparwood.ca or contact the Sparwood Community and Facility Services Department at 250-425-0552.

District of Sparwood

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