On Saturday, October 5, there will be a Community BBQ at the future site of the new proposed Kimberley Adventure Park at Swan Avenue.

The barbecue is a community engagement session aimed at presenting the project to attendees with specific focus on collecting input on the draft design options that will be showcased.

The Kimberley Adventure Park is a new inclusive and outdoor based park project that is aimed at developing physical literacy in young children by having them engage in creative, adventurous play in a neighbourhood setting.

The park designers will be in attendance to showcase the designs and solicit feedback from attendees. We are expecting around 100-200 attendees. We will supply food, drinks and fun events for all ages to attend.

On Saturday, October 5 drop by the future site of the Kimberley Adventure Park at 201 Swan Avenue (up the hill from Centex). There will be a free barbecue, games, activities, and an opportunity to provide input for the new proposed park.

With the support of the City of Kimberley, Healthy Kimberley, and funding from Columbia Basin Trust, several residents have been working hard to initiate plans for a unique park on a current green space. This space will encourage physical literacy, creative play, and community engagement.

The City of Kimberley owns the land and has endorsed the project with a commitment of staff time, labour, and equipment. Local businesses and industry such as Teck Resources has also shown support for this proposal. There is currently a paved basketball court on a portion of the property which is converted into a popular neighbourhood skating rink in the winter.

The remainder of the land is a flat grassed area approximately 25 m wide by 80 m long. The central location makes it an ideal community gathering place for unstructured play, games, picnics, and other possibilities. City recreation staff have indicated that this model aligns with the Kimberley Recreation Strategy and can be used as a model for other neighbourhoods.

The group has received funding to get started on a design and implementation plan. An experienced natural play space design company from the Kootenays has been contracted to propose several site plan options with input from residents. It is preferred to build a ‘natural playground’ in contrast to a typical plastic or steel play structure. By incorporating natural materials such as logs, rocks, and earth berms, as well as creative elements such as simple musical instruments, playground users of all ages derive more all-around benefits than they would on one dimensional play equipment. These kinds of play areas engage more of children’s senses and curiosity and are more visually appealing.

Initial discussions with community members about this initiative have been overwhelmingly positive. There is a great need for a neighbourhood park to service several functions such as a place for neighbours to gather socially. A community working group has been formed to enhance the initiative, foster public input, and raise funds for park construction.

Please join us on Saturday, October 5 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to learn more about the park, provide your input, and enjoy this great space! More information can be found on the facebook page: Kimberley Adventure Park.

Lead image: The 201 Swan Avenue site of the proposed Adventure Park. e-KNOW file photo

Submitted

Article Share