Mayors Ames Leslie and David Gillan join Marietta Starchief of Battlefords Area Tribal Chiefs join children from Battleford Central to celebrate the grand-opening of the Battleford Tot Lot on Friday, June 14. (submitted photo/Town of Battleford Parks and Recreation)

By Julia Lovett-Squires

Tot Lot

Battleford Tot Lot goes to the pirates following near $80K upgrade

Jun 17, 2024 | 2:38 PM

The tots of Battleford have an upgraded place to play following the grand reopening of a beloved town playground.

“The playground that was there previously, it just kind of was at the point where it needed to be replaced,” said Jordan Schechtel, parks and recreations manager with the Town of Battleford of the Battleford Tot Lot.

“The main structure itself had some broken pieces and it was getting to the point where it was in disrepair,” he added, noting that loose rubber crumb served as the surfacing.

In a ribbon-cutting presentation last Friday, June 14, the town, local dignitaries, students from Battleford Central School along with the Battlefords Area Tribal Chiefs Community Development Corporation, a cheque for $75,000 was presented to the town for the brand-new pirate-themed play area.

“That covered the majority of the costs,” he said noting the total cost of the project was roughly $80,000.

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BattlefordsNOW has reached out to BATC CDC and is waiting for a response.

According to Schechtel, the project was completed three weeks ago and has been open to the public since.

“This is the first chance we had with the weather and everything to have a grand-opening,” he said.

“It’s a facility that operates free of charge and it’s accessible to people of every…socioeconomic background,” he said of the “worth project.”

The manager said the playground, which also featured swings, a paddling pool and a green space runs from early June to the end of August.

“It’s free of charge and it’s really popular with young families to come and just spend the day.”

The new play structure and additional play elements (some make music, while others allow children to ride on fish and sharks) is expected to have a lifespan of about 25 years.

As for the community reception?

“The kids were watching…t he staff install it, and they were kind of beating down the gate wanting to get in,” he said.

“There’s a lot of excitement.”

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julia.lovettsquires@pattisonmedia.com

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