Places to play, a year sooner

Playground templates save time, money

Communities facing a long slog to build local playgrounds could be given a new option for completing the work that would save time and money.

The city is looking at creating a simplified approach that would allow residents to choose one of three standardized park plans rather than coming up with a concept and budget from scratch.

The move could chop more than a year from the process by eliminating requirements for a community needs assessment and public involvement plan to determine what people want, according to a city report.

“Thank you for putting something forward that will make it easier for neighbourhood groups to get neighbourhood parks,” Coun. Karen Leibovici told officials Monday at the community services committee.

“As people move in, they will get some parks.”

The proposed templates range from small playgrounds costing $280,000, with virtually all the money coming from provincial and city grants, to large facilities with spray parks worth a total of about $800,000 that would still require fundraising.

Erecting a playground now takes up to three years, the report says. Groups could still follow the current process if they want something customized for their area.

Developers are also strongly interested in a voluntary Edmonton pilot program to spur earlier playground construction in new subdivisions by speeding up inspections and approvals and improving flexibility.

There are 11 sites covering 63 hectares set to be completed by 2014, allowing work to be done cheaper because crews and equipment are already on the scene, a report says.

City staff are still working on the proposals.

However, west Edmonton resident Kim Street, who has been involved in building two playgrounds worth about $2 million, warned the committee not to take away the public’s right to decide what works best for their kids.

“The idea of creating standard parks … (can) disengage the community and will ultimately lead to lower-level parks,” said Street, school council chairwoman at St. Martha Catholic School.

“The highlight or reward … is to be able to choose the playground equipment.”

While Street doesn’t mind providing templates as an option, installing a standard amount of equipment might not work well if the space is much larger or smaller than average, she said.

There are better ways for the city to streamline the process, such as showing volunteers how to write grant applications and ensuring construction drawings are completed as quickly as possible, she said.

John Kuby, president of playground developer PlayWorks Inc., said he has often heard from frustrated community groups the process takes too long.

However, he suggested templates only show the size of the playground, the site amenities and a budget rather than outlining exactly what equipment will be provided.

“It imposes predesigned playgrounds on a community and takes away community involvement in design, and will likely lead to cookie-cutter playgrounds across the city, something none of us want.”