District of Squamish is planning to build a new community park at the end of No Name Road in North Yards.
The draft 2023 budget gives $50,000 to the project for public engagement and design, although the project is expected to cost $400,000. Construction will begin in 2024.
The 2012 Parks and Recreation Master Plan identified the lack of parks in the Northyards neighbourhood and recommends a new park be built in the neighborhood. There is currently a private citizen’s initiative to build a playground in the Northyards, though it’s not municipal standard playground, District says.
“The population of the Northyards has grown since 2012, which has increased the need to develop a municipal neighbourhood park in this area. The $400,000 budget is to create a new park and playground at the end of No Name Rd. The budget amount includes costs for public engagement, design work and construction,” the District notes.
Besides North Yards, the master plan also identifies Dentville, Garibaldi Estates, Valleycliffe, Hospital Hill and Garibaldi Highlands as other areas where a park is recommended. The master plan emphasis the importance of building neighbourhood parks with the growing number of young families in the community.
“Those children need a range of play, recreation and exploration opportunities. This is why it is important that every neighbourhood have access to parkland within no more than a 10 minute, safe walk, the master plan notes.
District also has a $1.8M budget for a destination playground and spray park at Brennan Park Recreation Centre, a community need that was identified in the Parks and Recreation Plan and the recent Brennan Park Fields and Land Master Plan (2018-2021). This $1.8 million will cover community engagement, design work and construction.
