Perth is hoping to turn an aging playground at Conlon Farm into a more welcoming place for parents and children of all abilities, and the town has already put its hand up for federal help to make it happen.
Staff have applied to the federal Build Communities Strong Fund for money to replace the existing playground and create a fully accessible and inclusive play space. The current equipment is reaching the end of its useful life, prompting the town to look beyond simply replacing old structures with newer versions of the same thing.
The funding opportunity arrived with little warning, forcing staff to move quickly, explained Cathy McNally, director of community services.
“So this came up as a very fast grant application. So it just came out and we tried to get the application out as quickly as possible. So that’s why we’re coming to you after it’s been submitted,” McNally said.
The deadline was Aug. 6, so the application was submitted before council had an opportunity to formally endorse it. The report came to the Aug. 11 committee of the whole meeting seeking council’s support after the fact.
Conlon Farm is already one of Perth’s busiest recreation destinations, drawing residents and visitors throughout the year. Rather than simply replacing an aging playground, staff are proposing to create a play area where children with a wider range of physical, cognitive and sensory abilities can play together.
Plans include universally accessible playground equipment, sensory and inclusive play elements, improved accessible pathways through the site, and seating and gathering areas for parents and caregivers. The goal is to create a destination playground that meets current accessibility standards while serving the community for years to come.
McNally said staff sought a preliminary estimate to get a sense of what such a project might cost.
“So we got a quote from playground planners just to give us an idea about what it would cost to insert and install an inclusive playground at Conlon Farm. In our grant application we asked for half, or just under $200,000.”
The price used in the application is only an early estimate and will be refined as design work progresses. If Perth receives the grant, staff will return to council with the amount of federal funding approved, the town’s required contribution, a final project budget, procurement plan and proposed construction schedule.
Submitting the application does not commit Perth to moving ahead with construction. Council will still get the final say once the costs and municipal contribution are known.
For now, the application gives Perth a chance to replace a playground that needs renewal anyway, while aiming for something considerably more inclusive.
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