Charlie Mitton is excited and pleased with the new playground equipment that was recently installed in Centennial Park in Duncan.
Charlie, who is turning four this month, was one of the residents in the city who successfully chose the equipment in a survey hosted by the City of Duncan on its Small City.Big Conversations website last fall, which asked residents to help choose which replacement play structure they would prefer.
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“Charlie was used to the old play equipment that was here that was destroyed and played on it all the time,” said her grandmother Brenda Fawkes, who was visiting Centennial Park with Charlie.
“She’s really happy to have equipment here again, and was pleased to have the equipment she chose in the survey picked by the city. She especially likes the slides.”
The Duncan Fire Department and the RCMP responded to calls about a fire in Centennial Park in the early morning hours on May 26, 2023, and found the old playground structure fully engulfed in flames.
The RCMP have identified a youth as a suspect in the incident and are working with the city with a restorative justice resolution.
Last fall, the city put out a call to play structure equipment suppliers to propose options for a new replacement play structure, as well as to include additional play elements that would enhance the overall playground, including broadening accessibility.
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The city had fire insurance to cover the costs of the replacement equipment.
“While the damage done to the Centennial Park play structure was a terrible loss to the community, we now have an opportunity to build a play structure that will provide new opportunities for play for many years to come,” the city said when announcing the survey on its replacement.
“This is your chance to help us select the best possible replacement option for the Centennial Park play structure.”
Peter de Verteuil, Duncan’s CAO, announced at the council meeting on March 4 that the play equipment was being delivered and that additional discussions regarding accessible play add-ons, including additional budget requirements, can follow when resources permit.