Guelph-Eramosa councillors seemed pleased last week that a Recreation Infrastructure Canada (RinC) grant will help cover playground upgrades at Rockmosa Park.
On June 29, the township received word its $25,514 application for the replacement of a swing set and resurfacing of the playground was successful.
The grant is split evenly between the federal and provincial governments, with the township covering the remaining third (about $12,757) of the total project cost of $38,271. Council voted unanimously on July 6 to transfer the funds from the township’s general parks reserve.
Parks and recreation manager Robin Milne explained the positioning of the current swing set “no longer allows for clear parental observation” and its “pea stone surfacing under the swing does not meet accessibility standards.” So the swing set be replaced with a new one, to be relocated next to the existing play structure, which was installed in 2004.
Milne also said township staff is having trouble keeping the playground’s “loose fill wood surfacing” in place as well as having an adequate depth in all areas. Some of the fill is finding its way into the splash pad’s filtration system; and when it actually remains where it’s supposed to, it conceals foreign objects like animal feces and broken glass.
He proposed replacing the fill wood surfacing with a “poured-in-place” rubber surfacing and edged concrete curb to address the above problems as well as improve accessibility. He told council the surface is guaranteed for eight years and has a “life expectancy” of 10 to 12 years.
Councillor Doug Breen said he is very happy to see the grant was approved and the Rockmosa Park work will be going ahead.
“This is what matters to people,” Breen said, adding he has received more thanks for the township’s work at the park – including the splash pad – than any other projects, including roads and bridges. He noted the park has a daily impact on local young families.
