INNISFAIL – The town is moving ahead to replace the old and worn playground at Cannon Park with a new fully accessible facility.
Two town council-preferred designs will be put before the public at the 2023 Spring Trade Show on March 31 and April 1 for feedback.
If the public reviews are favourable the replacement project at Cannon Park will be the second accessible playground built in town over the past year.
Last August, Innisfail’s first-ever all-inclusive playground, a project led by the Innisfail Kinsmen, was installed by volunteers at a cost of about $275,000.
The Cannon Park project, which has a maximum budget of $150,000 (including GST), was put before town council at its Agenda & Priorities Meeting on Feb. 6.
Steven Kennedy, director of operational services for the Town of Innisfail, told council the current playground at Cannon Park needed replacing due to its aging wood structures, unavailable replacement parts and safety concerns.
Council was told the town is partnering with the Kinsmen Club for fundraising and assistance with new playground installation.
Kennedy said a request for proposals (RFP) was recently closed and the town received seven submissions, which were then scored for equipment, surface and schedule.
From the seven submissions two were selected for council presentation. Both potential contractors entered two options; standard and accessible designs.
The latter accessible design was immediately seized by a clear majority of council members.
“I personally don't believe we should be building anything that's not (accessible),” said Mayor Jean Barclay. “One of our values we have for the Town of Innisfail is belonging and I think this is a big piece of that. It's not just wheelchairs, potentially. It could be walkers or difficult walking strollers, all sorts of things.”
With council’s clear acceptance of the accessible options for a replacement Cannon Park playground, Kennedy said administration will post the two preferred designs on social media, and bring them to the 2023 Spring Trade Show on March 31 and April 1 for public feedback.
“If the majority is to go with accessible, we'll take the two accessible options they have proposed,” said Kennedy. “And we'll take those to the trade show like we did last year, and have the public choose which one they like the most.”
Coun. Gavin Bates wanted to know whether a new playground design for Mac’s Park at 41 Street and 53 Avenue was at the same stage as Cannon Park, noting that project was carried over from last year.
Kennedy said there has not yet been a RFP issued for a new playground at Mac’s Park.
However, he added that since council has shown a clear preference for accessible options, he would seek the same for Mac’s Park and move ahead with two contractor designs to engage feedback from both council and the public.
Kennedy said the budget for the new Mac’s Park playground is about $90,000, and it would be designed as a smaller facility for younger children.
He told council he would also have design renderings for the new Mac’s Park playground available for the trade show.
Council unanimously approved a motion to accept the Cannon Park Playground Replacement report as information.
