Four playgrounds to get major upgrades in 2023 under annual renewal program

City hall plans to pursue four projects worth $111,055 next year as part of its annual playground renewal program, from fully replacing structures to adding benches and picnic tables.

The parks and recreation department presented its 2023 playground renewal program list during city council’s Oct. 11 regular meeting, with council voting to accept the document. 

The proposed projects next year include the full replacement of the playground at Athabasca Street West and 15th Avenue Northwest, a new picnic table and garbage cans at Kinsmen Regal Heights Park, new and extra benches at the Veteran’s Peace Park playground and outdoor rink site, and a new crusher dust pathway at Veteran’s Peace Park from the parking lot to the playground and outdoor rink.

There are more than 50 public playgrounds throughout the community, including 30 sites that the parks and rec department manages, four sites that Wakamow Valley Authority oversees, 15 locations that school divisions manage and three sites on public land — Hamilton Flats, Caribou Heights and Memorial Field — that third-party groups manage.

The department initiated the playground renewal program in 2021 and provides annual capital funding for the replacement and renewal of municipal playground sites, a council report explained. 

This year through the program, the department fully replaced the Moose Square Park playground, replaced wooden edging at Happy Valley Park, installed a new bench and garbage can at Keith Crescent Park, installed a new picnic table and garbage can at Iron Bridge Park and removed damaged fencing at Clark Gillies Park Playground.

There are four playgrounds due for replacement in the next five years, 14 sites in need of replacement during the next 10 years and 17 playgrounds in need of replacement over the next 15 years, the report said. 

Meanwhile, six playgrounds have obsolete equipment, two are in poor condition, nine are in fair condition and 19 are in good condition.

For more information about the condition of each park and its play structures, visit the City of Moose Jaw website.

Council discussion

Coun. Crystal Froese wondered where the bike park near Yara Centre fit into the overall assessment process of playgrounds or whether it was a separate area.

The bike park is not considered a playground under the renewal program, but every two years, the original installer comes and reshapes and re-landscapes the venue, explained Derek Blais, director of parks and recreation. 

“So there is an active preventative maintenance (program) there. One area we do continue to struggle with — and are looking for opportunities (to address) — is weed control,” he said. “It takes a lot of work to maintain weeds in that area. It is something we are attempting to improve upon.”

Blais added that the installer — who was last here in 2020 — was scheduled to come this year but was unable to, so he will come next year to reshape the course.

The next regular council meeting is Monday, Oct. 24.