The parks and recreation manager here is looking to make Victoria Park in Hillsburgh a “destination” park, even if it is over budget.
Erin applied for one third funding for the park from the federal government as part of the Canada 150 grant program in June 2015. Council later approved the remaining two-thirds for a total budget of $150,000.
Parks and recreation manager Graham Smith appeared before council on June 7, along with Christina Doracin from Blue Imp, to seek council’s approval for an extra $24,047 for the project ($19,754 for cost overruns and $4,293 for a wood border).
Doracin explained this playground would be an accessible destination.
“The benefits and key features about creating an accessible playground is it opens up that park for all people,” she said.
“We’re going to make sure that Victoria Park becomes a destination park.”
The 9,700 square foot park will feature an accessible ramp, slide, music wall and buddy bus.
It also features four rope climbing structures, a triple slide, two types of swinging structures, swing set, accessible U-swing, mini curved glider and more.
Over 100 children will be able to play on the eight freestanding structures and 15-activity playground.
“They’re going to come to this park because it’s a ‘wow’ park,” said Doracin.
Chricket Yule, coordinator of the Special Friends Club in Erin, said she is looking forward to the park.
“It was great to be involved in the process because although the special friends are all in the adult category, for sure, we go to Victoria Park all the time, they missed there being something there because they can’t really use what’s there at the moment,” she said.
“Special Friends will be there.”
Smith said the town received ten proposals from five different companies ranging from $114,000 to $185,000. The committee that was formed between staff and the public decided to work with Blue Imp to go forward with the $185,000 option with the understanding they would try to reduce the price.
Smith explained that Doracin attended one of the committee meetings “to explain what the difference would be in just having a playground and spending a little bit of extra money to have a playground that people want to come to.”
He added, “People in our community … went outside of Erin, outside of Hillsburgh to go to playgrounds, we went to different communities, formed half a day, a day with our kids to play. We want a destination, we want families to stay in our community.”
To save money the town will be doing the excavation work on the parkland itself and Halton Crushed Stone has donated all the gravel for the project.
Smith was looking for the extra $24,000 for the project to come from the cash in lieu of parkland reserve fund.
Councillor Matt Sammut said he was concerned about the extra spending. However, Mayor Allan Alls explained there was over $611,000 sitting in the reserve.
Smith added they will have no issue completing the project before the deadline of July 1, 2017.
“My vision is to see people coming to our community, to Victoria Park to utilize this facility,” he said.
Council approved Blue Imp’s playground proposal and the extra spending for the project.
