Residents of Silver Valley have been feeling on top of the world for the last few months now that they have more places to play.
Deer Fern Park and Cedar Park were actually finished late last year, but a ribbon cutting Monday marked the official opening of the neighbourhood parks.
Maple Ridge councillors and residents first celebrated Deer Fern Park at Rock Ridge Drive and 236th Street. That was followed by a traipse down the path to nearby Cedar Park on 133rd Avenue, where people and politicians cut another ribbon.
The two new parks complement the other neighbourhood parks, Red Alder Park and Birch Park in Silver Valley, Maple Ridge’s one of the newer suburbs at the north end of 232nd Street.
Each park has a half court with basketball hoop and room for road hockey plus playground equipment.
Deer Fern Park is 0.3 hectares and cost $330,000. Cedar Park is 1.2 ha and cost $396,000.
“Getting Deer Fern Park in was a big step,” said parks planning manager Bruce McLeod.
“We’ve integrated some natural play elements in both parks.” About half the parks will remain forest. “They’re positive things for the community.”
McLeod said a steering committee of local residents started sharing their ideas with the district recreation department in 2012 when the parks were being designed.
“The view was spectacular,” Coun. Judy Dueck said at Tuesday’s council meeting.
“Our parks staff did an amazing job with that.”