Construction has finished on three significant park projects in Abbotsford, including a new “adventure playground,” and a better connection between Discovery Trail and Willband Creek Park.
Hoon Park’s new nature-themed playground includes forestry-thremed elements that echo the surrounding trees, and the land once owned by Leonard Hoon, Abbotsford’s former ‘Gladiola King.’ Part of that hand has been plotted out for two six-storey apartment buildings.
RELATED: Final homesite of Abbotsford’s ‘Gladiola King’ property set for development
The park’s existing and aging playground has been joined by new elements that include a slide embedded in a hillside, logs for balancing, and other natural elements.
The playground was built with money from the city, Archway Community Services, Saputo, and the Grayross Foundation at the Vancouver Foundation.
The extensive trail network at Willband Creek Park finally has a new access point to the south, better connecting it to the Discovery Trail, Trans Canada Trail and nearby neighbourhoods. Previously, the park could only be accessed through a parking lot along Bateman Road.
The Great Trail provided $30,000 toward the project, and trees along the trail were planted from Environment UC, a group made up of the United Church, a local scout group and volunteers.
Construction has also wrapped up at Grant Park, which now has a new baseball field specially designed for players with disabilities. The park also includes an inclusive playground, a washroom building for families and those with disabilities, and an accessible picnic shelter.
The field is built, in part, for Challenger Baseball, a version of the sport created for players with disabilities. It includes a turf diamond
“This is such a great community-driven project, it’s going to really support some of the most deserving and worthy athletes in Abbotsford,” said Challenger Baseball organizer Tim Hall in a video produced by the city.
RELATED: New baseball fields will include diamond for players with disabilities
Do you have something to add to this story, or something else we should report on? Email:tolsen@abbynews.com
