The Kew Gardens playground will soon be seeing an upgrade. Lacombe City Council awarded a contract to replace the playground at Kew Gardens to Canadian Recreation Solution in the amount of $149,750 plus GST.

“The playground renewal program helps us maintain the City’s service level in outdoor facilities and amenities,” Mayor Grant Creasey said. “By bringing in the latest playground equipment, we can help our youngest citizens not only have fun – but also grow and prosper in our community.”

The recommendation came from the Lacombe and District Recreation, Parks, and Culture Board. The new playground was selected amongst nine proposals. The selected design was chosen for its unique elements and ability to foster the development of children’s motor, sensory, and social skills.

“City staff assessed the nine proposals received against the mandatory requirements, which did not disqualify any proposals,” said Director of Community Services Deborah Juch. “They were then evaluated against the discretionary criteria which included innovation, design, layout, maintenance, warranty, budget, and schedule.” 

The selected structure for Kew Gardens. Image courtesy of the City of Lacombe.

The structure will include a custom Little Tike Commercial Nu Edge 3 Story Tower which will be a first for the city. Engineered wood fibre has been selected for ground cover in order to add a more accessible element to its design. Council unanimously opted for a more natural colour palette including green and brown.

The project is anticipated to start in the early fall and be completed by October 1, 2021.