Not only will the Town of Battleford be looking at building another children’s playground in the budget process for next year, but an outdoor rink as well.
At last week’s town council meeting, a letter from Battleford West resident Tammy Eberle suggested town council consider building an outdoor rink in the Telegraph Heights area for this winter. While council decided it was too late in the season to construct a rink in this year's budget, it would be put on the list of things to consider when determining next year's budget.
Eberle wrote in her letter, "As hockey and skating is great physical activity for youth and adults it would make sense to have an outdoor rink in the vicinity of this development. My children would utilize the rink as often as they could."
While there are outdoor rinks in the south and northeast areas of Battleford, she said, it would make sense to have a rink on the west side for youth who have no transportation to the other rinks.
She added, "Last year [my children] wanted to go to the outdoor rink, but often didn't have transportation to the rinks, mostly after school."
While council will consider an outdoor rink in the upcoming budget deliberations, they will also consider a request by the developer of Battleford West, Dean Kupchanko, to give consideration to supplying and installing a children’s playground in the municipal reserve area of the subdivision.
In a letter to council earlier this year, he stated, “Now that there is a community of houses in Telegraph Heights and new affordable housing going up in Heritage Court there is a population of children residing in the area. Some of the residents were considering assembling a petition for a playground, but asked if I would approach council first, hence this letter.”
The letter concluded, “Children are playing on the street and residents are concerned about their safety.”
The municipal reserve area where the playground is proposed is between Heritage Court and Parker Court.
Councillors noted the development agreement with Kupchanko does not call for the developer to build a playground, however the town does collect a site services fee that can include the cost of such projects.
Both requests have been referred for consideration during the next budget process.
