MOUNTAIN VIEW COUNTY - Council has approved a plan to have the county provide $20,000 towards the new playground project at Reed Ranch School east of Olds.
The move came by way of motion at the recent regularly scheduled council meeting, held in person and on Zoom.
The $20,000 donation is subject to final council budget approval in 2024.
“In a recent safety audit the facilities department (of Chinook’s Edge School Division) made the decision that the Reed Ranch School playground be removed in the next two years,” chief administrative officer Jeff Holmes told council.
“The parent advisory council’s goal is to have a new structure purchased and ready for install by the fall of 2024. They are planning to raise upwards of $100,000 to cover all costs associated with the project and they are contacting many other organizations and intend to explore other avenues of funding.”
Chinook’s Edge School Division has not yet committed any funding towards the project, council heard.
In a letter to council, parent advisory council president Dean Duquette said, in part, “Together with the school staff, we have decided to ensure that the new structure has elements that support children on the autism scale and those with similar learning requirements. The school often has student with these needs attending due to the smaller class sizes (at the school).”
Meanwhile, council also approved a $21,817 county contribution to the Carstairs pickleball court project to be funded from the intermunicipal collaboration reserve.
In a letter to council, Town of Carstairs director of community services Paula Schmick-Roy said the new pickleball court will be on land already donated by the town.
“We have seen a huge growth in pickleball over the last few years in Carstairs with the pickleball club growing to over 100 members in a short time and we expect that to keep growing,” she said.
“Our current situation has the pickleball group playing on the old tennis/basketball courts. A new facility would provide everyone an opportunity to enjoy all three sports simultaneously. Along with being active, it creates friendships and a sense of comradery between players.”
