New life for Harbourview playground

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This article was published 27/06/2019 (2523 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It has been nearly two years since Harbourview’s playground burned to the ground. But now, a new one has risen from the ashes.

On June 27, the City of Winnipeg held a grand opening for the new play structure in Harbourview Park.

“The restoration of this playground is an important return to our area community,” Coun. Shawn Nason (Transcona) said. “Many family memories have been made over the years at Harbourview Park, and I am hopeful that many more will come as Winnipeg works to renew this wonderful regional park in the future.”

The old play structure at the park was destroyed by arson in 2017, leaving a big gap in the ammenities at northeast Winnipeg’s regional park. 

“This major new play structure will be enjoyed by families from throughout the city,” Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) said. “It is located on a well shaded site, complemented by newly planted trees, and a picnic and barbecue area by the new horse shoe pits.”

The new structure, which maintained aspects of the nautical theme that were a feature of the previous playground, cost $350,000, which was allocated by way of the City’s insurance reserve fund and the Public Works capital budget.

“It’s a big deal that without delay we were able to get this funding,” Browaty said. “I’m glad we were able to fund it as quickly as we did.”

“It’s awesome, it’s got lots of things,” said Candance Bernier, a mother of two from North Kildonan who was at the park on June 28. “They’ve been having fun for the last hour here.”

“We used to come here before,” added Brandy Zelinsky, another mother of two who was at the park with Bernier on June 28. “I like that there is another little ship, and that there’s green space around it. I like the nature features, the rocks for kids to climb on.”

Browaty said he feels the City has done a good job at consistently funding local parks for renewal, adding that Harbourview and Kilcona are up for major upgrade in a few years time as part of the Kilcona Park-Harbourview Recreation Complex Strategic Renewal and Action Plan, which has been approved by council.

“I think we’ve pushed out Phase 1 of the major Kilcona works to 2021-22, but it’s in line,” he said.

In the meantime, though, Browaty admitted that there are a few gaps in service that visitors may find disappointing.

“We don’t currently have an operator for the restaurant service here,” he said. “That would be nice to get back.” 

Sheldon Birnie
Community Journalist

Sheldon Birnie is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. Email him at sheldon.birnie@freepress.mb.ca or call him at 204-697-7112

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