A group comprised of those living in Garibaldi Estates and officials from the District of Squamish came together last week to dedicate a new playground structure in a park where similar structures have twice been destroyed by deliberately set fires.
On April 21, Mayor Rob Kirkham and other dignitaries were guests of the Garibaldi Estates Block Watch at the dedication of a play structure that was rebuilt with approximately $25,000 of public money after the old play structure was destroyed by fire in August 2010.
No arrests have bee made in the arson fire that destroyed the old structure - the second time in three years that such a fire had destroyed the Goode Park playground. Last September, though, Squamish council allocated the money for a new structure.
While not completely fire-proof, the materials used in the new playground are chosen to be less susceptible to fire. Christie Smith, district communications manager, said less plastic was used, and a higher-grade steel than was in place previous make up the play structure.
"We've got a structure in place that minimizes the chance of anything like that happening there again," said Kirkham, adding that the structure was also built further away from trees and other underbrush. "It is designed so that it is not something that can be easily set ablaze."
After the August 2010 fire, RCMP stepped up patrols near the park. As well, those living around the park, led by the Garibaldi Estates Block Watch group, have dedicated themselves to keeping a close eye out and communicating with each other, and with police, when they notice suspicious activity.
Last September, Squamish's previous council allocated $25,000 from an $86,000 contingency fund to rebuild the playground structure.
"From the RCMP's perspective, our appreciation goes to the Block Watch Captain Nelson Winterburn and all local residents who have shown a true example of what can be done when we all work together in the community in crime prevention and reduction strategies," said RCMP Staff Sgt. Guy Pollock.
Added Kirkham, "They're (the Block Watch group) very well organized. They're paying attention and communicating with each other and if anything seems out of place, they have systems in place to ensure that it's dealt with."
