Update - June 8, 2023: The playground is open! There's still some work to do on the grass and landscaping, which will happen over the next few months/into the fall as the weather allows. Thanks for your patience, and enjoy the new playground!
About the Project
As part of the Municipality of Middlesex Centre's capital project improvements, the playground at Westbrook Park is being rebuilt.
Construction began on Tuesday, October 11, 2022, with an estimated project completion date of June 6, 2023.
This project will be done in two phases and will have the following work completed:
Phase 1 – October/November 2022
Remove the existing play structure and base and prepare subgrade for the installation of:
- a concrete playground curb including accessible curb cuts
- perforated drainage pipe
- a 1.8 metre wide asphalt pathway - delayed due to asphalt plant closure
- bench
- waste receptacle
- armour stone block seating
- trees
- final grading
You can see the plan for the work in the engineering diagram below. This work will be completed by Van Roestel Contracting Ltd.
Phase 2 – Spring 2023
Phase 2 will now see the completion of the asphalt pathway and curbing and the supply and install of the new play structure followed by the installation of the playground base (engineered wood fibre). The municipality has selected Park and Water as the playground supplier.
Schedule
This project began on Tuesday, October 11, 2022. Phase 1 of the project is now 90% complete. The remaining work in Phase 1 will be completed in the spring of 2023. Installation of the new play structure will take place in spring of 2023. Note this schedule may be affected by weather and other unforeseen circumstances.
- Update - Oct 7, 2022: Starting on Tuesday, October 11, the Westbrook Park playground will be taken out of service as the construction begins on a new playground. The old equipment will be removed and is to be sold by auction. Watch Filson Auctions for the future sale.
- Update - Oct 24, 2022: Bidding on the old playground equipment is open Oct 22 to Oct 27 at 5pm through Filson Auctions (lots 41-42-43).
- Update - Nov 23, 2022: As asphalt plants have closed for the winter, the curbing and asphalt pathways will be completed in the spring of 2023.
- Update - Feb 8, 2023: The new playground has been selected. You can find images of it attached below.
- Update - May 17, 2023: The base construction is now complete, and Park N Water (contractor) will be on-site the week of May 22 to begin installing the play structure and engineered wood fibre. Once installed, the playground will be inspected by a certified playground inspector, and will open to the public after it passes inspection.
- Update - May 31, 2023: The playground is in, but the footings and engineering wood fibre are still being installed, currently scheduled for June 6. The landscaping will be tidied up over the next few weeks as has gotten a bit messy during the recent work. We hope to have the inspection by Friday, June 9, and will open to the public after the playground passes inspection.
- Update - June 8, 2023: The playground is open! There's still some work to do on the grass/landscaping, which will happen over the next few weeks once there is some rain in the forecast.
Questions
To answer a few questions that have come in:
Playground Accessibility
The playground meets accessibility codes and many of the playground features are considered accessible, allowing for climbing and crawling, and with a zero-entry access point. The design of the playground and the play elements was shared for input with the Middlesex County Accessibility Committee, as was the playground base design.
Why is "mulch" being used for a base?
The material we are using, Engineered Playground Fibre, is similar to mulch but is manufactured specifically for playground safety. It provides the necessary impact protection as governed by the CSA as relates to playground safety regulations.
Every few years the engineered playground fibre is topped up as determined by annual compaction testing that is performed as part of regular playground inspections.
The material is brought up to a level allows for accessible entry to the playground area for wheelchairs. The border and the step up is designed to keep the playground material in place. The amount of material and the border are part of the third-party independent playground inspection. The Westbrook playground is no exception -- it was designed by an architect and then independently inspected by a certified playground safety consultant to ensure full compliance before the playground was opened to the public.
Why is the landscaping delayed?
The hot, dry weather have delayed the installation of new grass and the new tree planned for the area. These will be added once the weather is co-operating. The tree likely will not be planted until the fall, when conditions are more favourable.
Financial Information
Please see Middlesex Centre's Open Budget for details on the costs and funding of this capital project.
Alternative Playgrounds During Closure
For those looking to continue using play structures are encouraged to visit the following parks as an alternative (weather permitting):
Questions
Should you have any questions about this project please contact Scott Mairs, Director of Community Services.
Thank-you
Thank-you for your patience and understanding while construction is underway.
Notice first posted in August 2022.