After a string of arsons, Pat Goode Park's playground will rise again.
On Tuesday (Sept. 13), the District of Squamish council voted to spend $25,000 to replace the playground, which was destroyed in a blaze in August. The play structure was rebuilt in 2008 after it was torched in June 2007.
Insurance companies won't cover playgrounds, said Scott Lamont, the municipality's parks supervisor. With that in mind, district staff will try to purchase a playground made from the most fire resistant material possible, such as steel. But, it is difficult to find a structure that's free of plastic parts, Lamont warned.
The last blaze was intentionally set to be a very hot, Lamont said. Mayor Greg Gardner noted initial police reports stated an accelerant was used. Only a small remnant of the playground's plastic slide remained and some of the metal components were warped. The Squamish RCMP has since stepped up its patrols in the park, Lamont said, as has the neighbourhood's community watch group.
"Hopefully this doesn't happen again and we are going to strive to make sure it doesn't," he said.
The district's intention is good, said Coun. Corinne Lonsdale, but she questioned whether it was wise to dump more money into a playground that wasn't completely fireproof.
"We just can't keep throwing $25,000 at this park every second year," she said.
Lonsdale suggested the district save more money and build a structure that isn't subject to fire, such as a water park. The community has long wanted a water park and Pat Goode Park could be a prime location for it, she said.
With no voiced support from council, Lonsdale's idea fell flat. With the exception of Lonsdale, council voted to rebuild the playground. The $25,000 sum will be withdrawn from the district's $85,928.71 contingency fund.
"The project is dear to a lot of people's hearts in the community," Lamont said.
