Kitchener upgrading three playgrounds

KITCHENER — Three playgrounds around the city will be getting new play structures and improved accessibility.

The city is set to spend about $375,000 renovating the playgrounds at Resurrection Park, Traynor Park and the neighbourhood park next to Upper Canada Park. Construction should start in October and all three playgrounds should be ready for kids to enjoy by early November, said Karen Leasa, the landscape architect working on the project.

In the spirit of Kitchener’s new neighbourhood strategy, the city stepped up its efforts to consult with local residents about how the new playgrounds should look. Those efforts included holding online surveys, and even using volunteer Spanish, Arabic and Nepali translators to connect with residents about Traynor Park, which is in an area where a lot of new Canadians live.

It was really important to hear from those who will use the playgrounds, Leasa said. “We’re keenly interested in making sure the residents retain a sense of ownership and take pride in the park and playground spaces within their neighbourhoods.”

The city worked with Social Development Centre Waterloo Region to translate and distribute surveys and hold a public meeting about the Traynor playground.

The new playground in the small 0.15-hectare park will be more visible from the street and have more equipment, Leasa said.

The new playground in Upper Canada Park will have a decorative nature theme with bugs, frogs and leaves.

The equipment at Resurrection and Upper Canada is 20 years old and due for replacement, while the playground at Traynor had to be moved because of LRT construction.

All three playground makeovers improve accessibility, with an accessible path leading to the playground, small wood chips that a wheelchair can travel over, and a ramp over the curb edging the play area. See details of the new playgrounds on the city’s website, by typing “current development” in the search window at Kitchener.ca.