‘We’re pumped’
Development of Barrington Passage park underway
Phase one development of a community park in Barrington Passage is expected to be completed by the summer.
A natural playground featuring a zipline, a triple-bay slide, a sand kitchen, a swing set, a boulder climb, and a boat-shaped play structure is being constructed on property owned by the Barrington Leisure Park Association (BLPA).
“We're pumped,” says Evelyn Brannen, BLPA chair. “This is not just an ordinary playground and it's open for all genders, accessible for all abilities, and it's communityminded because that was the initiative, the community needed to be behind it and they came.”
A new 100-by-50-foot cement pad is also part of phase one. It has already been poured and will have basketball nets installed on each end.
“We want everyone to come and enjoy the cement pad,” says Leah Swaine, BLPA cochair, be it for rollerblading, basketball, hockey, dance, or any other type of recreational activity.
Swaine says the goal of the BLPA is to get the children and youth disconnected from the digital world and outside, connecting with nature and enjoying what the community has to offer.
The phase one project carries a $250,000 cost. “We still need a bit more to button it up,” Swaine says.
The BLPA was successful in getting an $84,348 grant from the Municipality of Barrington and an $82,000 recreation grant through the provincial Department of Communities, Culture Heritage and Tourism.
The community also stepped up to support the BLPA's '100 patrons for play' fundraiser.
“We were trying to raise $50,000 and we surpassed that. We had so much support," Swaine says, listing off countless businesses that have helped with financial or inkind donations.
“The Municipality of Barrington has been tremendous right from the beginning,” says Brannen.
“Councillor Andrea MoodNickerson has been the liaison between us, and has been very supportive of the park. We are thankful for that,” adds Swaine.
Located in the centre of the main business district of the Municipality of Barrington, the park is accessible from the road and also from the multiuse trail that runs through the community.
“I think all the kids are going to love it. It's in the middle of everything. You can go shopping, drop the kids off, or whatever, and let them have fun. Or plan it for your day of going shopping and working in a little park time,” says Swaine.
“A picnic, birthday parties, it's open for everything,” adds Brannen.
Brannen says the park will have an impact “on our future community's attraction to young families wanting to move to our municipality and our graduates wanting to return after university years to come back and stay here to raise their children."
The second phase of development at the park will be a splash pad. A skateboard park, estimated to cost millions, will be the final phase.
“We have plenty of room to do what we want to do,” says Swaine. “It's like a dream that we finally broke ground. Something positive that came out of COVID. Members of the association had time to make it happen.”
The BLPA is continuing its fundraising efforts in support of park development. An online fundraiser is underway to win a dry dock – donated by Dixon's Marine to bring a commercial fishing boat in and out of water, a value of up to $1,600. The prize draw will be in May.
During July 1 Canada Day celebrations in Clark's Harbour, the BLPA will hold its second annual lobster races. The event will involve 25 kids racing five lobsters per heat in a specially built track, followed by a free-for-all. "Last year was awesome," says Swaine.
The BLPA recently found out it is the beneficiary of this year's Matt Maxwell Memorial Golf Tournament, held annually at the River Hills
Golf Course in Clyde River. “We were super excited to find that out,” Swaine says.
The BLPA is a non-profit charitable organization that can give receipts for donations they receive. Further information can be found on their Facebook page.