MOUNT FOREST – The Lion Roy Grant playground has reopened as of July 5, following accessibility improvement work that closed the playground for a little over two weeks.
Fencing was removed, and work finished by Park N Water Ltd., on Tuesday — the same company that will be replacing the Campbell DeVore playground near the Mount Forest and District Sports Complex; now expected to open mid-August.
The Lion Roy Grant playground’s sand surfacing was removed and five inches of stone was laid with a filter cloth on top, followed by 12 inches of engineered wood fibre.
The material, forming a compacted layer of small wood pieces, is thought to be more cost-effective than other accessibility options, and accessible by mobility devices such as wheelchairs.
Mandy Jones, interim manager of recreation programming and community engagement, said there remains work to be done in adding a new accessible parking space on Parkside Drive, and a sidewalk – measuring five-feet in width, and 13-feet in length – leading from the parking space to the playground.
The work for the parking space and sidewalk additions aren’t expected to limit use of the playground, Jones said.
The entirely of the work rings in at a tax-in cost of around $42,000, according to Jones. Of that amount, $10,000 is being paid from the Wellington County accessibility fund.
