District of Squamish council has decided to allocate $80,000 to rebuilding Stan Clarke Park, calling it a "destination park" that must be renovated properly.
But during a public meeting on the issue Wednesday Oct. 20, a popular idea to build a waterpark in the Second Avenue playground hit a brick wall.
Mother and daycare provider Sarah Ruttan spoke up during the meeting to inquire about the possibility of water features.
"There's a coalition on Facebook that's trying to get a water park built in the downtown area and a lot of parents are very supportive of the idea," she said, referring to the online group "Squamish water playground coalition," which now has 433 members.
However planner Jim Charlebois threw a wet blanket on the idea, saying such a structure would cost upwards of $200,000 - more than twice the allotted budget. But it's out of the realm of possibility for another location, he said.
"We kind of informally think at the staff level that maybe Brennan Park would be suitable in the future."
He added that water parks can only be used about three months of the year whereas regular parks are used year round.
"There are people in the park all the time, summer and winter, and it has a better destination feel for downtown as a regular park," said Charlebois.
Suttan also had other recommendation, such as more baby swings because mothers are always fighting over them and said she preferred the wood chip base.
Parks supervisor Scott Lamont, who oversaw the recent enhancements to Jura and Porcupine Parks, said community input is essential in order to meet park user needs and desires.
"The more communication with the public the stronger the playground," he said. "It's not just rebuilding a park, it's rebuilding a community."
Lamont said all the old equipment would have to be removed.
"A lot of the equipment is too old and we already had to take out the teeter-totter," he said. "Some of the structure itself is at the end of its lifespan - it's time for a new playground."
Nonetheless, only a handful of parents trickled in to District of Squamish council chambers to discuss improvements. A preliminary concept plan and examples of play equipment were provided to incite discussion, and staff was on hand to answer questions.
"We want to gather input from the community on what sort of age groups like to use this park and what sort of play equipment they want to see," said planner Elaine Naisby.
The preliminary concept showed an informal plaza, open grass, a reading circle, area designated for older and younger children, and a nature play area with existing trees and small boulders.
"We haven't actually determined what pieces are going to go in there," said Naisby.
Suggested play equipment included climbers, play houses, tree forts and dual children equipment such as teeter-totters.
A questionnaire to encourage community input and feedback was distributed at the meeting and is available online at www.squamish.ca
