At the July 11 meeting of the District of Elkford’s Council, a redevelopment plan for the Pine Needle Park was approved. Council passed a plan to include the park into the Parks and Trails Master Plan and for the District to work with the Community Enhancement Society and neighbouring residents to focus on and create a natural play area. The plan was prepared by District staff and the plan’s purpose was to make the green space more attractive and more used by suggesting low impact improvements.
Prior to the space being as it is now, there was playing equipment at the location, according to the District of Elkford’s Director of Planning and Development Services, Scott Beeching.
“There was play equipment at one time, but it was removed and the park was left in its natural state identified as a green space by the Parks and Trails Master Plan,” he told The Free Press in an email.
The redevelopment plan for the park will see a natural play area.
“Council has included the redevelopment plan into the Parks and Trails Master Plan to develop it into a neighbourhood park including a picnic table, bear resistant garbage can, a sign and a natural play area,” he said. “The natural play area could consist of some passive features of natural materials and landscaping to encourage self-guided play and help create a sense of place.”
In addition to the natural play area, local community members and groups have petitioned and recommended for formal play structures to be included.
“The District received a petition a number of years ago xzc from neighbourhood residents asking for the District to place some play equipment in the park; the same idea was brought to Council by the Community Enhancement Society who want to help the residents to facilitate some formal play equipment, a slide or swings,” said Beeching. “Residents who wish to be part of that initiative are encouraged to contact the Community Enhancement Society.”
Beeching believes that work on the park will start shortly and the Pine Needle Park redevelopment should be completed later this year.
