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The plan to replace the old washroom and kitchen is moving ahead. The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) has entered into an agreement with a modular building company to design, build and install a new building that will have two washrooms, a kitchen and a mechanical room. The Memorial Hall and Errington Farmers Market are working with the RDN Parks team to ensure the building meets the community's needs.
Every effort will be made to have the new building in place by the 2024 Farmer's Market season.
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The new playground is complete! On Thursday, September 22, 2022, the playground was officially opened with help from local students. Errington Elementary School donated art made by kindergarten students, which was revealed during a small celebration and now adorns the playground fence. Errington Elementary and Heartwood Home Learning held a competition to name the new playground. Ideas from both schools were combined to come up with Wild Rose Castle Playground.
Families can enjoy the many features of the playground, which reflect the community's input during the planning and design phases and enhance this popular park for a broad range of ages and recreational interests.
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We are excited to inform you that installation of the new playground, path and picnic shelter are nearing completion. Please be aware that while the playground is open for play, we are still completing the picnic shelter so this area is fenced and closed to the public. Additionally, you will see orange fencing around the newly seeded lawn areas until the lawn is established. Thank you for your patience during construction, please continue to obey all signage for your safety.
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Thank you!
Thank you to all who have participated and provided input so far. Your contributions have helped guide and inform the project. The consultation and information gathering phase of the project is complete, and we have moved on to preparing detailed design drawings and tender documents.
Here are the items suggested through this community engagement process that we are aiming to include in the design:
- A playground that will provide creative play opportunities for kids of all ages. This will include a climber, swings, and a sand play area with a play hut and digging toys.
- Improved path network to connect the existing park features with the ones about to be constructed.
- A large portion of the open field will be preserved for recreation and events.
- Incorporating topography into the design.
- Improving traffic circulation and parking for market days and events. This includes a 2nd exit for vehicles.
Due to a number of project constraints, the bike park will not be included in the project at this time.
Pending final approvals and contractor availability, the project is on track for construction in Fall 2021 and be completed by the end of 2021.
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As we began the Public Consultation process, we approached groups within the community to be our initial sounding boards for the preliminary design direction and character of Errington Community Park. These stakeholders were selected for their meaningful and comprehensive insights for the vision of the bike park and the playground concept. The groups consulted were the Hall Board, Heartwood Home Learners, and Errington Elementary.
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Hall Board Stakeholder Meeting - December 18, 2017
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Heartwood Home Learners Stakeholder Meeting - January 8, 2018
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Errington Elementary - January 26th, 2018
The presentation of the preliminary design direction and the proposed character of the bike park and playground was well received. Renée Lussier, Parks Planner presented the concept diagram and highlighted the potential amenities within the park. Below is an overview of the meetings.
Conceptual Diagram. Reviewed the layout of proposed features within the bike park and playground project. This review included a discussion of the character of the elements and the materials of the equipment placed within the defined spaces of the park.
Proposed Park Plan Features. A gateway marks the entrance into the bike park at the corner of Veteran's Road and Memorial. The gateway could include signage for information and be a point of focus for the project. Nodes within the park could intersect various spaces thus providing places to gather and offer directional information. Transition areas link park features or mark a boundary to a park feature. These transitions can provide seating opportunities, viewing opportunities, or areas of pocket planting. The field would remain and be resized to accommodate the new features but still be used efficiently for special event parking. A trail extension would provide a link from Memorial Road to the bike park and playground and continue the system into the greater area of Errington Community Park. Planting trees and considering an edible plant palette could be provided along the outside edges of the new park plan concept.
Proposed Bike Park. The bike park would feature 3 jump lines, a technical trail within the existing treed area, and a pump track. Dirt surfacing is currently being considered for all bike park elements, but other surfacing options will be explored as well. A large mound for the jump lines would be able to also provide storage opportunities under the soil surface for maintenance items and community games and equipment.
Proposed Playground. The playground could focus on adventure play and motor skill development. This playground 'character' would link well with the bike park amenity. In order to provide equipment for all ages, abilities, and interests, a parkour park feature is proposed. Providing a linear parkour park would allow this element to connect with the larger, established trail network throughout Errington Community Park. A parkour park would provide an active place for youth who have aged out of playgrounds and youth who are less interested in the bike park amenity.
Presentation Discussion. We discussed the material options for the playground and parkour park and there was an overwhelming desire to use natural material (timber) for play equipment. The focus should be on local products and whenever possible, community involvement during the process. The response to the conceptual diagram was positive; continuing with the park plan ideas as presented and discussed was strongly encouraged. Comments on the concept diagram are as follows:
- provide community field games storage and separate park tools storage is desired
- include picnic tables
- include bear-proof trash receptacles
- provide a second exit for vehicles during special events
- note: the road parking is very wet - there were some conflicting comments on this, so monitoring the area over the wet season is advisable
- note: concern for field size - would prefer it to be 50m x 50m
- allow for community art, community installation along the trail of adjacent the various features
- include ways for the community to participate in the design and construction of the playground
- include children in the design and construction process as a learning tool
- allow for an area of the park to be designed by children - either near the playground, in the playground area, or adjacent the trails
- establish an edible plant palette
- include children's touch garden
- provide a plant identification map
- for future consideration - a trail connection from Errington Elementary to Errington Community Park
Updates to the concept diagram are ongoing and will endeavour to meaningfully include the input provided by the stakeholder groups as the design progresses. Preparation for the Open House is underway and has been presented at the March POSAC meeting for comment and direction. Stay tuned!
