A great deal of design work and planning was completed over the summer on the Creston Community Park upgrade project, which will provide a reconstructed skatepark and enhanced amenities. Throughout the fall, the project will emerge from behind the scenes and residents will be able to see activity happening on the site. A survey of the entire hillside will be taking place, followed by fire-line relocation and hillside sculpting.
“The Creston Community Park upgrades project is progressing very well, and we are at a point where people will start to see the work beginning to take place,” said Randy Fediuk, Manager of Recreation, Creston & District Community Complex. “The hillside sculpting will take place in the fall months, so the ground has a chance to settle and we don’t have to worry about trying to work during spring rains.”
“The hillside will be fenced off and not accessible to the public for the remainder of the construction in order to protect the work and the public,” continued Mr. Fediuk. “We understand people will miss using the playground and other activities on the site, but we know the end result next summer will be worth it.”
A preliminary topographical survey from the original Facility Enhancement project contained enough information to do conceptual layouts, but this hillside survey will be more detailed and will provide all the cut-and-fill information for the initial sculpting of the park area. In concert with the earthmoving process, a fire hydrant line that feeds the hydrant close to the front entrance is to be relocated. This will then allow the excavation of the skate park area and the stormwater detention pond to take place without the risk of damage to the line.
Contractors have been engaged to undertake the initial site demolition, removals, surveying, fire-line relocation, grading, and excavation. The work has commenced and will be progressing over the coming weeks to prepare for large-scale construction of the park starting in 2019. Contracts for work to be done in the spring will be tendered in the coming months, and the project team continues to make progress on the design of other park features and amenities. The project team has collaborated with local sports groups on court design, which will help ensure the park addresses users’ needs.
“The hillside survey work will take place shortly, followed by the fire-line relocation and site grading work until the end of the month and into early November—all depending on the weather, of course,” said AJ Evenson, Senior Project Manager at the Regional District of Central Kootenay (RDCK). “We know this work is a disruption for users, so we thank everyone for their patience and for staying clear of the work site.”
Features of the community park will include a reconstructed skatepark, with 10,000 sq. ft. of innovative functional spaces for skateboarders, BMX riders and scooter riders; an accessible walkway and seating area for spectators, and a picnic/civic space with seating for social and community gatherings. Other features will include a revitalized playground, horseshoe pits, and beach volleyball courts; the addition of pickleball courts and a multipurpose basketball court; upgrades to lighting, landscaping, parking areas, trailheads and pathways; and enhancements to accessibility between the indoor and outdoor amenities of the Complex.
The project, which was formally announced in March 2018, is being funded through the Federal Gas Tax Fund, administered by the Union of BC Municipalities in partnership with the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia, with additional funding provided by the Columbia Basin Trust.
Updates about the project will be shared on the RDCK website www.rdck.ca/CrestonCommunityPark. Visitors to the Complex can also view conceptual drawings, schematics and project updates on display in the main lobby.
