With public consultation underway for replacement of the Stadacona Park playground, the prospect of an all-abilities area there for kids is a priority for the City of Victoria.

The development proposal is a product of the cityB次元官网网址檚 2017 Parks and Open Spaces Master Plan, with the first of its three goals being to B次元官网网址渃reate an inclusive and accessible playground.B次元官网网址�

As stated in the plan, the city strives to both accommodate and challenge children of all ages and abilities with specialized play equipment and site furnishings. The playground will provide ample space between all elements, resilient rubber surfacing to reduce risk of injury, and barrier-free connections to other areas and amenities in the park.

A pop-up info session will be held at the park on Wednesday, Aug. 18, during which attendees can speak with the playground planners between 4 and 6 p.m. Feedback on the proposal can be submitted online until Aug. 20.

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Coun. Stephen Andrew recently endorsed the prospect of a new all-abilities playground for Victoria on Twitter. He referenced a video of a redevelopment plan by non-profit HarperB次元官网网址檚 Playground to turn the play area at Marshall Park in Vancouver, Wash. into a fully accessible and inclusive playground.

B次元官网网址淚 would like nothing more than to see (in Victoria) the types of parks that are in that video,B次元官网网址� Andrew later told Black Press Media. B次元官网网址淲e need to make our entire society more accessible.B次元官网网址�

While several all-accessible playgrounds do exist in Victoria, he said they are B次元官网网址渘ot commonplace,B次元官网网址� noting that roughly 20 per cent of respondents to a recent city survey stated they have a disability or mobility issues.

B次元官网网址淲e just need to change our thinking. We need to come from B次元官网网址榯hatB次元官网网址檚 not possibleB次元官网网址� to B次元官网网址榟ey, that is possible.B次元官网网址� If weB次元官网网址檙e restrictive with our environment, then thatB次元官网网址檚 the challenge we face.B次元官网网址�

Andrew has forwarded the HarperB次元官网网址檚 Playground design concept to the cityB次元官网网址檚 parks, recreation and facilities department for future developments.

This is what I want to see for our city, all inclusive areas for play. This is exciting. THIS is equity.

B次元官网网址� Stephen Andrew (@Stephen_Andrew)

Oak Bay residents on Facebook have also deemed the playground by Willows Beach worthy of redevelopment and more accessible features, such as an all-abilities swing.

Of the existing playground, Chris Hyde-Lay, parks services manager for Oak Bay Parks, Recreation and Culture, said, B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 aging for sure, itB次元官网网址檚 not as eye-catching as some of the others that youB次元官网网址檙e beginning to see, but itB次元官网网址檚 certainly very well used.B次元官网网址�

Hyde-Lay said the district is embarking on a playground replacement initiative as of 2023, with one playground to be rebuilt per year, but noted the Willows facility is not a priority.

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Victor School, a specialized education facility in Fernwood that the Greater Victoria School District exempted from a revised catchment boundary in 2019, is home to one of the cityB次元官网网址檚 few all-abilities playgrounds.

To find out more about the Stadacona Park playground replacement project or to access the survey, visit .

Do you have a story tip? Email: vnc.editorial@blackpress.ca.

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