By Angela Brown

Battleford West playground slated for construction next year

Aug 18, 2017 | 12:00 PM

The Town of Battleford will be able to move ahead with a playground project at the Battleford West subdivision in 2018, after choosing a firm that came in under budget, and received the best feedback overall.

The town set aside $100,000 in the 2017 capital budget for the project. The 1 Stop Playgrounds bid came in at $96,583 including tax. The town was also approved for a $25,000 grant for the project under the Community Initiatives Fund that can be used in 2017 or 2018. 

Initially the town received eight proposals for the project for a playground with equipment, for children ages two to 12. 

The designs were sent to the Parks and Recreation Committee, which includes members of the general public. Councillors also reviewed the designs.

“It was to get some feedback from people other than administration,” Parks and Recreation director Jordan Schechtel said.

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The Parks and Recreation Department evaluated the proposals based on several categories: completeness of the design, the firm’s experience, the quality and durability of the materials, the clarity of the proposal, the overall appeal, the “play value,” and the appearance, and the price. Schechtel said the overall appeal, play value and design were weighed heavily during the review.

“You want the best play value for your dollar,” he said. 

He added safety is a priority when the department is evaluating any projects for playgrounds or parks.

Schechtel said in his report to council the firm completed more than 150 projects in the province in the past eight years, and prior clients include municipalities, schools and regional parks.

While the town had scheduled the work to be done for the fall of 2017, Schechtel said the company wouldn’t be able to complete it until spring 2018 due to other projects. 

He added the company agreed to hold the price until January 2018. 

“It is still under budget and it would be the first in the queue, so it would be done right away,” Schechtel said. “What we will do is order the equipment in January, and they would store it for us.”

Coun. Doug Laing said he was pleased to see the project come in under budget, and added the available grant will help assist with the costs.

 angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW