$150,000 has been budgeted to fund the building of a playground only a few hundred meters away from Rainbow Park. The funds were allocated from the Parklands Dedication Reserve to fund a makeover of Queen Street Park, a small park at the corner of Queen St. and Devine St.
Councillor Chrissy McRoberts put forward the motion at the November 26 budget deliberations meeting to improve this park after consultation with residents. She said that the playground equipment at Rainbow Park has been underutilized for years, even before the current encampment. “For years, that equipment has been rusting and falling apart,” she said.
Councillor McRoberts said that crossing Christina St. was a barrier for many families and suggested that the Queen St. location is a better spot for a playground. “It’s a nice, protected area,” she said. Saying it would serve the small, lower-income families in the immediate area well, she said, “I think it would be just a perfect fit.”
Councillor McRoberts then suggested that the equipment at Rainbow Park be removed at some point in the future and a new plan developed for that area.
Councillor George Vandenberg said that no one wants a playground at Queen St. Park and that the mothers he has spoken to don’t let their children out of the house. "Maybe once Rainbow Park is cleaned up, but right now this is not a good idea.”
Councillor Anne Marie Gillis countered that she has spoken to people in the area who are in favour of a playground.
Councillor Brian White said, “We can actually create safe spaces. By using the space it does help to push away some of the nefarious activity that people are concerned about.”
The proposed playground includes a Playbooster Structure that is appropriate for children ages 5 to 12 years, that consists of a double slide, two climbers, a vertical assent wall, a ball maze panel, and a stationary cycler, as well as a swing set with one belt seat and one bucket seat.
The quote includes the manufacturing and installation of the playground equipment and wood fibre surfacing, as well as site prep, asphalt pathways, and hydroseeding of the park space. The project will ultimately go to tender for the final cost, however the quote fits within the $150,000 budget allocation.