Another new subdivision will have a safe place to play before it is completed.
On Sept. 22, Centre Wellington councillors heard about another proposal to build a fully-accessible playground within a subdivision even before homes are built.
And in the case of the Strathlea subdivision in the north end of Fergus, the developers will be fronting the municipality’s share to get the project underway.
On Sept. 22, managing director of community services Brian Detzler explained his report was about the advancement of the timeline for an accessible play structure at the Strathlea subdivision.
Detzler said this includes a $50,000 donation from the developer for a total installation value of $125,000.
He added the developer will front the cost of the entire installation so construction can take place this fall.
In his report Detzler noted the development of parks in new subdivisions is funded through development charges.
He added the actual construction of new parks is preferably done early in the subdivision development process so the park is in place as new development takes place.
Detzler said this means the park is available for use of residents as they move in to the area and the developed park deters the use of this public space as a construction staging area or dumping spot as the subdivision is developed.
The intent would be the advanced money would be returned to the developer in 2015.
Roughly $67,500 of the remaining funds would be paid through the municipality’s development charge funds while another $7,500 would come from capital reserves.
Mayor Joanne Ross-Zuj considered this another good News story by getting these playgrounds ready in advance rather than see the buildings constructed and waiting for the playground to be built.
Councillor Walt Visser noted that over a decade ago accessibly standards were set by Wellington County, yet it was only last year Centre Wellington finally accepted them.
“Now everything is just escalating … in the course of two years we will have four accessible parks and a fully accessible municipal building.”
Councillor Fred Morris thanked Detzler for this initiative.
Morris said that when he began on council parks were usually the last things to be addressed.
“In Ward 4 it was particularly frustrating because we had a number of parks which stood empty. Advancing this to parks being one of the first things to be addressed, I think that is highly commendable.”
Earlier in the meeting Ross-Zuj commented on the recent official opening of the accessible playground in Elora.
“It’s truly amazing to see how much the children are enjoying these new playgrounds. They are very safe and the equipment is different from the old teeter-totters and monkey bars we all grew up with,” she said.
“There are now a variety of choices and ways children can express themselves in play. The equipment is totally accessible and it’s very interesting to just watch young toddlers and how they can actually access the equipment.”
