Construction is underway on another phase of upgrades to the playground at Maffeo Sutton Park. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

play time

Maffeo Sutton Park playground upgrades underway

Aug 9, 2022 | 5:26 AM

NANAIMO — Young children won’t have long to wait for a substantially improved experience at one of Nanaimo’s go-to playgrounds.

Aging equipment and a somewhat unforgiving gravel surface was recently removed in favour of a modernized, inclusive playground to be installed over the next two months.

Pete Entwhistle, project coordinator for the City of Nanaimo, stated the revamped playground is expected to open in early October.

“The new playground is targeting two-to-five-year-olds and we really wanted the ‘wow’ factor on this side of the park — we want to give them something that they can play on and get excited about.”

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Entwhistle said the $650,000 project meshes with adjacent phase one playground improvements geared toward five to 12-year-olds, which were completed in 2020.

Soft surfacing made from rubber and wood fibres will be topped by amenities for kids with varying physical and cognitive abilities.

Entwhistle said the City’s accessibility and inclusiveness committee was heavily leaned on to enhance the playground.

“We have an all-inclusive swing which allows wheelchair users to actually stay on their chair and come right onto the swing, it’s pretty exciting,” Entwhistle said, who noted the over-arching aim of the playground is promoting motor, cognitive and social skill development through active play.

A slide with attached climbing feature, accessible teeter-totter and numerous musical and sensory features will be installed.

Entwhistle noted felled trees from active mobility enhancements at Bowen Park are being repurposed for the new playground to be used for the surface and landscaping features.

Additional seating areas, more trees to provide shade and a hand-carved canoe will complement the project.

The second and final playground enhancement at Maffeo Sutton Park will integrate with the adjacent Rotary Centennial Garden, which opened nearly two years ago.

City councillors elected to fast-track the accessible playground project for younger children at the downtown Nanaimo park to this year from the 2023 budget.

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ian@nanaimonewsnow.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes