Chilliwack kids have three freshly-updated parks to keep them busy this summer and beyond.
New equipment has been placed in Fairfield Park, Spruce Grove Park and Green Acres Park, and a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Thursday to celebrate the improvements.
“It is a council priority to continue to upgrade our parks and trails,” said Mayor Sharon Gaetz during the ceremony. “Playgrounds play an important role in our communities as they bring our children together and help them stay active.”
City officials gathered at Fairfield Park, which had been on the books for new playground equipment for four years. The old equipment has now been replaced with a new, simpler open style.
The playground, located at the entrance to the park at 46213 Clare Ave., had been showing signs of wear and tear, the city said. That created a need for increased repairs and safety inspections.
“After consultation with the neighbourhood and the other user groups of the park, the new playground was chosen and installation was completed in June,” the city wrote in a release earlier this week. “The new playground’s simple, open style and overall structural strength will provide families with decades of fun as a cornerstone in the community.”
“The 2016 census confirmed that the proportion of children in our community is at the top of the chart in the Fraser Valley Regional District and we take our responsibility to provide them with play opportunities seriously,” said Gaetz. “New playgrounds and playground upgrades at Fairfield Park, Spruce Grove Park and Green Acres Park provide a good opportunity for children to get away from TV and computer screens, while getting exercise and socializing with their peers.”
The parks with the improvements are spread across the city. Fairfield Park is on Fairfield Island, Spruce Grove Park is a neighbourhood park centred between the homes on Circle Drive in Sardis, and Green Acres Park is tucked away on Elm Drive. It previously did not have a playground.
Each playground features structures for ages 2-5 years and 5-12 years, providing a variety of play activities for various age groups.