The last two pieces of the playground puzzle are falling into place.
The City of Trail has replaced the last two of its nearly two dozen old playground units across the city as part of its seven-year replacement plan.
With the new units in Upper Sunningdale and the R.V. Park by Waneta Plaza having been installed last week, the city will now have completed its schedule to put brand new structures into place across the city.
The city spent nearly $40,000 for the two units in 2011 but it wasn’t until 2012 that the sleek structures were installed. Like building codes that change over time, the 25-year-old playground equipment in the two parks—similar to the other parks across the city—had reached the point of an overhaul, said City of Trail parks and recreation director Trisha Davison.
“They eventually get to the point where the technology of playgrounds changes, as does the safety (requirements) for people,” she said.
The old wood, steel and plastic structures contained aesthetic “holes” in the surfaces, but the spots were also havens for bees and wasps to set up their nests, it was found.
“Obviously that became a problem in a children’s playground,” said Davison.
The new structures contain no wood or holes in their surfaces. Public works went through a process seven years ago for all of the city’s parks to take out the old ones and put in new ones.
The city was not in a position to install new playgrounds in new places, but instead embarked on a plan to put new structures in old places.