Two and a half years ago a Tadanac resident realized the neighborhood needed a new playground.
Saturday community members celebrated bringing that vision to life, as the new equipment was officially unveiled at the Reg Stone Tadanac Park.
“The old park was splintering, wasps were building nests in the structure, it was just falling apart,” said Bridget Kivell.
She saw the need for a new playground and began organizing meetings in the community to get people involved in the project. Kivell starting talking to people about the issue in 2008 and had the final plan pass through the city in January 2010.
The community rallied around the idea of a new park and got to work. Children in the neighborhood set up carwashes and lemonade stands to fundraise. The Tadanac residents also organized a bottle drive.
“This community is just great for volunteers,” says Wayne Hodgson, Tadanac resident and member of the Kiwanis Club of Trail.
Hodgson came out to every meeting and bottle drive but credits Kivell for being, “the spearhead to this project.”
Both Teck and the City of Trail gave funds for the playground.
“Because these guys came with so much enthusiasm, this project got boosted up ahead of other parks,” explained Larry Abenante, Trail’s public works manager.
The cost of the project was alleviated by community work and donations. Donated machinery and volunteer labour allowed organizers to focus spending on the final product.
“It helped maximize the dollars to put into equipment that kids were going to use,” said Trisha Davison, Trail’s director of parks and recreation.
The community was able to choose what equipment would be installed, even to the ratio of toddler swings to regular swings.
“This is the best way to build something like this. They got to decide on what they want,” Davison added.
It took volunteers just four days to construct the park that was completed last November. Saturday was an opportunity for the community to enjoy the latest addition along with cake and juice.
“It was great working with all the neighbors, it was a great social thing to and were still talking after the work,” said Hodgson.