The $300,000 federal grant was provided through the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan). (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

accessible to all

Popular Parksville playground in line for additional accessibility upgrades

Jul 22, 2022 | 2:24 PM

PARKSVILLE — Federal funding will bring more accessibility features to a high-use Parksville playground.

The $300,000 grant for Lions Ventureland Playground complements a $100,000 City of Parksville contribution.

Communications manager for the City Deb Tardiff said their priority is to make the playground in the Community Park as accessible as possible.

She said the work will include the continued replacement of the sand with a pour-in-place rubber surface made from recycled tires.

“At one point it was all sand. Over the years we’ve come to realize sand is not really conducive to really good play under playground equipment. It really reduces the maintenance cost over the long term, provides a constant surface for the kids to play on, it’s very bouncy.”

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The transition from a sand surface to a rubber one has been a gradual process, in part due to the high price of rubber. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

The combined funding will also help cover new washrooms, a gathering plaza, improved volleyball and racquetball courts, new pedestrian walkways, and resurfacing the lacrosse box and the skateboard park.

Construction on those projects will begin in the fall, allowing the amenities to be used for the duration of summer without disruption.

“Those are things that are in the City’s budget for this year. All those projects will start in the fall and hopefully, be complete by the end of the year. We’re excited to have visitors and residents back in the park after the pandemic, so we’re not going to start those things in the park when things are crazy busy.”

Earlier this year construction to enhance the playground was complete thanks to a $315,000 provincial tourism grant.

A splash park was completed at the site in 2018 as part of numerous enhancements in recent years.

Tardiff said according to older reports, the Ventureland playground welcomes an average of 500,000 guests annually.

Jack Bagley Community Park in Nanoose Bay also recently benefited from this federal grant, securing $500,000 in order to complete its upgrades.

The Ventureland Playground has equipment for all ages and abilities to enjoy. This slide section was installed in January of this year. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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