New playground opens at Vernon Rec Centre

VERNON – It was a monkey-style celebration on Thursday afternoon, as preschoolers swung from the bars of the new playground at the Greater Vernon Recreation Centre.

A partnership between the Regional District of North Okanagan, the Ministry of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, Kal Tire, and the Tire Stewardship Program, the new playground behind the Recreation Centre has provided a safe and accessible outdoor space for kids to play. Local MLA Eric Foster sees tremendous value in these types of partnerships, and has been pleased with the impact of the Community Recreation funding program in the Vernon area: “it is great to have an outdoor space like this for children to enjoy, and this is the result of a collective effort” says Foster.

As part of their 60th anniversary celebrations this year, Kal Tire awarded the Regional District with funding for the recycled rubber surface for the playground. The surface has made the play area safer and accessible for children with mobility challenges. “Tire Stewardship BC provides funding for projects like this, and we saw an opportunity to partner with them to double the funding for six projects, similar to this one, throughout the province” said Tracy Cobb, Director, Communications, Kal Tire. “It was a great way to show our thanks for the sixty years of community support.”

Chair of the Regional District, Patrick Nicol, also can’t be happier: “It is this type of community collaboration that allows great projects like this to happen, and the benefits are very evident” Nicol said as he looked on at the kids enjoying the playground in the sunshine.

The playground is open to the public, and is located between the Greater Vernon Recreation Centre and the Vernon Curling Club. For more information on programming at the Recreation Centre, visit www.greatervernonrecreation.ca.