New Children's Park Opens in Pemberton

A new children's Nature Park has been unveiled outside of the Pemberton Community Centre. The park features a grass maze and 795 new plants including sage, lavender, rudbeckia, sunflower and echinacea. The park is aimed at children age two to six. Children can explore the park and the several paths that weave through tall grass and endless plants. The area was first pitched by Angela Barth, recreation Services Manager of the SLRD. She says, "As the grasses grow - and we'll see this next year -they'll be higher and more colourful. It'll be interesting for early years children to explore."

The grass maze is just the first step in a plan of further development of the area. In the future, new phases will be added to the park as funding becomes available. Over the next several years, the plan is to add tee-pee forts, an outdoor classroom area, viewing patio, sandbox area and a stream with a water pump. The design of the park falls in line with the new trend in park design moving away from traditional steel and plastic playground structures to more natural elements incorporating nature.

Thanks to Pemberton's current baby boom infrastructure parks like this are becoming especially valuable. The new grass park highlights an area devoted entirely to Pemberton's children. The park is located next to the Pemberton day care centre, outdoor water park & community centre and only a quick walk away from the BMX track and skateboard park. As the community continues to grow the hope is the new park area will grow with it.

Photo: Dave Steers

Posted: Monday, August 31, 2015