New playground equipment is going up this summer in Fort Simpson and Fort Smith.
In Fort Simpson, installation of a new play area for kids is set to kick off in August with hopes of completion before winter.
The planning stage for the new structure has taken a little time to get off the ground, Mayor Sean Whelly acknowledged.
SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e been looking at recreational upgrades since the new council got in a little bit over two years ago,SA国际影视传媒� said Whelly. SA国际影视传媒淭his was one of the longer-term plans that we had and it got placed on the capital plan, and itSA国际影视传媒檚 coming up for this year.SA国际影视传媒�
The idea for the structure came about when the council wanted to do something for local children.
SA国际影视传媒淲hen you talk recreation, thereSA国际影视传媒檚 things for adults to do. ThereSA国际影视传媒檚 always golfing, or recreational hockey or curling,SA国际影视传媒� the mayor said. SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 not too many things for little kids to do. We do have an area down here by the Mackenzie and Liard (rivers), where they join and the big beaches start to develop into August but itSA国际影视传媒檚 just a short period of time where kids can really go down to the water. We thought it would be nice to give them a chance to have a playground area where they could just run around and have sprinklers going and adults could sit in the shade.SA国际影视传媒�
In Fort Smith, acting mayor Chris Westwell said once the latest playground work is done, the town will have replaced or upgraded all of its playgrounds within the last six to eight years.
SA国际影视传媒淎dditionally to that, weSA国际影视传媒檙e actually seeing one new playground installed and a new play space being installed, then weSA国际影视传媒檙e seeing a return to a playground that has been missing for about 20 years,SA国际影视传媒� said Westwell.
The returning play structure is the St. AnnSA国际影视传媒檚 playground.
SA国际影视传媒淪t. AnnSA国际影视传媒檚 Street has been missing a playground for about 20 years,SA国际影视传媒� said Westwell. SA国际影视传媒淲e had an arrangement with the housing authority for a long time in the past where they have a property which, in agreement with the Town of Fort Smith, they werenSA国际影视传媒檛 taxed so long as they maintained the playground, and that playground feel into disrepair, was eventually removed and never replaced. So the town is entering into agreements, hopefully, with the housing authority, taking ownership of that land and installing a new playground and turning it into a town of Fort Smith green space.SA国际影视传媒�
Other play structures under development or being constructed within the town include those in the area of the recreation centre, the daycare, Kid City and Key Ferguson.
