Amie Armet (L) and Karolien Solyu of the Rocky Point Neighbourhood Association celebrate the opening of a new local playground. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Ian Holmes

Partners in Parks

Determined Rocky Point residents land new playground

Oct 16, 2024 | 5:30 AM

NANAIMO — Three years ago when Karolien Soylu’s young family moved to a north Nanaimo neighbourhood, something felt like it was missing.

“I remember looking at my husband and saying ‘where are the playgrounds here?’ and he’s like ‘I don’t know.’ We kind of looked, we were searching around and couldn’t find anything, and I was like ‘okay, I guess I’ll have to build one then.'”

Fast forward three years and a new $150,000 playground in the southeast corner of Harry Wipper Park at the end of Renee Pl. is now open.

A Sunday, Oct. 13 community celebration was held, where local children, volunteers, corporate partners and City of Nanaimo representatives all gathered.

About 75 people turned out to the community celebration on Sunday, Oct. 13 at Harry Wipper Park. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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Upon moving into the Rocky Point area, Soylu realized there weren’t any playgrounds within walking distance for children most of the time since Frank Ney Elementary’s play structure is restricted during school hours.

Soylu, who worked for many years in the non-profit sector, began connecting with neighbours who shared her vision for a community playground.

She inquired with the City of Nanaimo’s Partners in Parks (PIP) program, which involves $100,000 in annual funding to help offset the costs of developing or improving public park spaces.

“I was told it was going to be a long time probably before we could do this, but we kept pushing and fundraising,” Soylu told NanaimoNewsNOW.

Community-based fundraising and corporate donations led to a base of $10,000.

The City of Nanaimo then stepped up with $50,000 in PIP funding and identified space for the playground.

A small section of parking lot at the end of Renee Pl. has been taken over by a playground. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

Soylu said as local fundraising gained momentum, the local corporate community and volunteers assisted immensely in the form of in-kind work donations.

Reflecting on the long journey to get a play space built, Soylu said much more than just a playground has been gained.

“I sent out something like 200 emails, I was constantly looking. I did a lot of online research — just bringing everybody together, this was huge. We had no community whatsoever here in this area until this started.”

She noted the playground project resulted in a greater sense of community and the formation of the Rocky Point Neighbourhood Association.

The City’s manager of parks operations Charlotte Davis attended Saturday’s ribbon-cutting event.

Davis said it has been inspirational working with Karolien and other driven Rocky Point residents.

“Their passion shone through, and I think the neighbourhood has a real need and that’s where you get some great projects because it’s designed by the community for the community.”

Davis called the PIP program a great organic process that turns ideas into results.

A new, modern playground is now open at the base of Renee Pl. at Harry Wipper Park. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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ian.holmes@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @reporterholmes