A temporary playground may be the best compromise for the residents of Creekside Estates.
On Tuesday, Nov. 22, parents, friends and neighbours of the subdivision attended the City of Cold Lake council meeting to show their support for a playground in their neighbourhood.
Their children are gathering pieces of wood and debris left over from construction and are building forts and makeshift play areas.
“Right now, the kids in our community are playing in the street, and they are playing in a construction site, and there really is no safe place for them to go and meet, and meet their neighbours and to build those social skills and burn off a little energy in a safe place,” said Craig Baskerville, resident of Creekside Estates.
Baskerville, and his neighbour Charolette Villemaire, represented their neighbours within Creekside Estates, and expressed their communities concerns about the lack of park, or access to a park for the families living in their area.
“There are a number of families in our neighbourhood that have purchased homes in Creekside with the expectations that a park was going to be on the way,” explained Baskerville, adding when he made a call in to the city to confirm plans of a park, they were told it could be some time before a plan is put into motion.
The nearest park for families living in Creekside is approximately a two kilometre walk.
“We feel there is a huge need for that type of facility for our families to access,” Baskerville noted. Currently, families looking to walk are forced to cross several busy streets, Highway 28, and Highway 55, and with no sidewalk to walk on, the trek can be difficult with children in tow.
There are plans to build a school near Creekside in the future, which would allow families to access the playground; however, that “just is not soon enough.”
About 4.5 hectares has been set aside for an elementary school, which would provide families with not only a park, but a soccer field, ball diamond and open area for families to access.
The school is part of the Northshore Area Structure Plan, which also includes two significant linear parks, one in the central west area of the plan, and one east of English Bay road. The plans also include ‘tot lots', or small local parks, which will be located in the areas of the plan that are the farthest in walking distance from an area or regional level park space.
Area structure plans work in a series of phases, noted CAO Kevin Nagoya.
He explained that even areas such as Lakewood Estates, who are in a similar predicament, are being forced to wait until phase four of their area structure plan before they will be getting a park. The only difference is their subdivision is located closer to the beach and campground, which allows them access to a park.
Nagoya continued, that currently, they have not designated a specific area for the park.
The families have looked at areas that have been designated as multi-family properties, but have yet to be built on. Should one of these areas be used for a temporary park, the city would have to take over ownership of the area for the time being.
Nagoya said the contractor who owns the property, would not likely want to be held responsible, should someone be hurt on the playground, so if the city took over temporarily, the playground would be under their insurance.
“Right now, the land that is subdivided is not city land. The developer has no obligation to do anything,” Nagoya said, adding there would have to be a discussion with the developer about the possibility of a temporary or devoted park space.
Council agreed to set-up a meeting with the developer to discuss options for the park.
However, it is not just the lack of park that has parents of Creekside Estates concerned; it is also the lack of access to the Millennium Trail.
“Every other neighbourhood in Cold Lake can at least walk to a park,” explained Baskerville.
Villemaire said the project is not only important for the kids of today, but also the future children of Creekside Estates, and the temporary playground is a good step in the right direction.
“I think it would be a good start and compromise, for both the developer and the residents of Creekside, until they can get something permanent in place.”