With the purchase of new accessible playground equipment for one of the area's busiest beaches now approved by North Bay City Council, citizens can now look forward to its installation as early as this spring.
During its regular meeting, Tuesday, Council approved a contract for nearly $114,000 to Park N Play Design Company Ltd. for the supply and installation of the accessible playground equipment at Olmsted Beach, part of Armstrong Park, located off Lakeside Drive on Trout Lake.
See related: Olmsted Beach improvements include $114K contract for playground equipment
"This new playground is a critical piece in helping to make Armstrong Park and Olmsted Beach fully accessible. A fully accessible washroom was completed in 2020 and accessible pathways and parking will be added this summer. This new playground will meet all of the current accessibility standards," reads the report.
Coun. Scott Robertson, the council representative on the Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee recognized MAAC for providing feedback regarding items such as pathway design in the park with City staff. Just as importantly, observed Robertson, staff sought out the advice from MAAC's members.
Communications Officer Gord Young says the equipment's installation is slated to be completed at the end of June, followed by some cleanup and landscaping. "If all goes well, the new playground will be open for Canada Day. This, however, will be dependant on manufacturing and delivery of equipment."
"Olmsted Beach is a destination playground area in the community," said Coun. Chris Mayne. "The addition of $114,000 in new, fully-accessible playground equipment will just increase its value as a family-friendly asset in our community."
A City of North Bay staff report notes the playground is heavily used by the community. The playground equipment was closed in the fall of 2019 and removed in the summer of 2020 due to some "critical safety issues that could not be repaired without significant expenditure."
Last summer, in anticipation of the installation of new playground equipment, a base and footprint were installed by Parks staff.
Park N Play scored highest of the six proposals evaluated by the Purchasing Manager, Manager Parks, Supervisor Parks and the Parks Maintenance Operator. The evaluation considered mandatory technical requirements related to the product’s performance and features; experience; qualifications; play value and inclusive play; layout and circulation; durability; work plan; schedule; and, price.
