City council authorized that $2.34 million be spent to provide new playground equipment in Maple Ridge Park, including zip lines, in-ground trampolines, and a 30-foot treehouse climbing structure.
The park saw about 800,000 vehicle movements and an estimated 2 million visitors in 2023, Chad Neufeld manager of parks planning and development, told city councillors recently.
“Maple Ridge park is the city’s oldest, and I would argue probably most popular, destination park,” he said.
Councillors agreed to award a contract for $2.34 million, plus a $200,000 contingency, to Langley-based Canadian Landscape and Civil Services to build the new facilities.
Neufeld said the city received feedback about what features to add to the park at the corner of 232nd Street and 132nd Avenue (Fern Crescent). They held open houses in the park, and got about 800 responses to the survey.
Throughout the public engagement process, staff heard from park attendees that they favored a “Life of Trees” concept, but also desired components from the “Salmon Run” plan. Rather than choosing one concept, the final playground design incorporates features of both plans, including the most requested play components.
The largest feature of the playground is the 30-foot tree house climbing tower with slides that is designed to provide interest and challenge for an older age group of children. There will also be a 100-foot zip line, in-ground trampolines, and rubber salmon sculptures.
Accessibility upgrades include a new slide, see-saw, spinner, sand digger, and swing. The pathways to and from the parking areas are also being upgraded to an accessible width and re-paved. New sensory play features are also being installed, including a sand and water play area, musical components and talk tubes.
The upgrades include 15 shade trees and new lounge and chair seating around the playground.
Some of the existing playground will be unchanged, including the main equipment with a large metal slide, the large climbing boulder, and swings that are in good condition.
The timeline calls for a March start, and work will continue until fall – Neufeld noted some of the equipment must be ordered and manufactured.
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