BOYLE — Kids and families in and around the Village of Boyle will have a new amenity to explore and enjoy, possibly as soon as spring 2025, thanks to the long-term efforts of a community volunteer group.
The Greater Athabasca Community Foundation’s (GACF) playpark, a project nearing a decade in the making, has finally reached phase three, according to Lindsey Stanton and Terryl Turner.
“Many, many hours of volunteer time went into this, and time away from family too, but we’re almost there,” said Stanton, long-time GACF chair.
Stanton and Turner gave an update on the project to Boyle officials during the Nov. 20 council meeting, an update which featured digital mock-ups of the playpark layout, and a formal ask for land donation from the village.
The pair envision the playpark as the next addition to the splash and skate parks, amenities also brought to the community by GACF volunteers. The new playset will come complete with a disc swing, a climbing structure, slides, and of course, a tall, high-rise platform.
“We thought, wouldn’t it be cool to be driving down 663 and see this big, huge tower, and your kids are like, ‘I want to go there!’” said Stanton, earning chuckles from councillors. “That’s why we went with the tower.”
Also part of the playpark plans is space for a standing roof shade structure, a place for parents to escape from the summer sun and winter wind while taking advantage of the amenities.
“So that you can have shade, you can watch your kid at the park, you can watch your kid at the skate park, or you can watch your kid at the splash park, your central gathering point,” said Turner.
Councillors had positive feedback for Stanton and Turner, praising their continued efforts over the years.
“What you guys have done so far is pretty damn good,” said Mayor Colin Derko.
With winter here, the final steps of installing the playpark will have to wait until warmer weather prevails. Stanton said the organization is hoping to have the pieces shipped and ready to be put together as early as spring, but with a possible delay until late summer.
Stanton and Turner are hoping to save around $50,000 by rallying a group of volunteers to help with the installation. While no date has been set, initial estimates hint between 10 and 12 bodies will be needed over a span of around three days, and all work will be done under the supervision and direction of PlayQuest personnel.
Playpark price tag
The package from PlayQuest included in council’s agenda contained cost estimates for the playground parts, supervised installation, and shipping expenses. Factoring in GST, the unofficial total for the park current sits at $282,000, but could be impacted by potential savings on shipping costs, safety gear needed for installation, and the shade structure.
Stanton said GACF is paying for the park with a combination of provincial and federal grant money, and with the fruits of local fundraising in the community by way of GACF’s annual tire wreath Christmas initiative, and other events like silent auctions and dances.
Nearly a third of the cost, or $100,000, was covered by an accessibility grant from the Government of Canada, with conditions the park has to be viable for persons in wheelchairs and other physical limitations to enjoy.
Stanton said the organization also received funds under the Community Facility Enhancement Program. GACF was granted $125,000 from the provincial government, a sum matching their own chunk of change set aside for the park.
“We had some funds still from all the things that we’ve done, we seem to always be able to have a little bit left over so that we can continue on to make that next project, so that’s always been very helpful for us,” said Stanton.
A running joke between Stanton, Turner and councillors during the update was the almost decade-long process to move the park from concept to reality.
“You guys have been working on it for a long time. That whole area started with a dream of that spray park. Now your kids are no longer playing or meeting there anyways, soon they’ll be bringing their kids to the spray park,” poked Derko.
And while their children are older now than when the project began, Stanton said once complete, the park will remain a fixture of the community for residents of all ages to enjoy.
“I know we joke that our kids are too old for it, but they’re still going to go play on the playground and they still run through the spray park,” said Stanton. “It’s just a nice place for a lot of family stuff to happen in the summer.”
Councillors opted to refer GACF’s request for placement approval to an upcoming public works meeting to determine what, if any, underground utilities or other unseen obstacles will factor into the location.
“That’s cool, that’s a great area,” said Derko. “For so many reasons, I wish I was a kid again.”
