Burlington closes Pinemeadow splash pad

Community push on for natural playground

The City of Burlington has permanently closed the Pinemeadow Park splash pad.

The city announced Friday the closure was due to the splash pad’s age and extensive repairs needed to upgrade the electrical components to meet current codes and standards.

“The cost to replace the electrical system is not within a reasonable budget, therefore, the splash pad will be removed and not replaced,” according to the City of Burlington’s website.

Pinemeadow Park, at 3171 Pinemeadow Dr., is still open. During the removal of the splash pad, some areas may be closed off for safety.

Nearby Ireland Park opened its splash pad this summer. The facility was meant to replace the pad at Pinemeadow.

The Ireland Park splash pad is accessible to anyone with a disability, offers greater water conservation, and has supporting park facilities.

A community project is underway to build a natural playground at the Pinemeadow Park. A group of residents secured $5,000 from the city to assist them in its development.

A natural playground uses natural landscapes, plants and materials in a creative and interactive way for children’s play and exploration.

“Natural playscapes are created for the enhancement of a child’s curiosity, imagination, wonder, discovery, to nurture a child’s connectedness and affinity for the world around them,” stated the city’s website.

“Play components may include earth shapes (sculptures), environmental art, native vegetation (trees, shrubs, grasses, flowers, lichens, mosses), boulders or other rock structures, dirt and sand, natural fences (stone, willow, wooden), textured pathways, and natural water features.”

Anyone interested in getting involved with the design and construction of certain aspects of the playground is asked to contact Denise Beard, manager of community development at the city, at denise.beard@burlington.ca, or follow the community Facebook group at www.facebook.com/ Burlington Natural Play grounds.

For more information on the removal of the Pinemeadow Park splash pad, contact Becky Ellis at the city at 905-335-7600, ext. 7363.