New parks guide for Sechelt

Now it's easier to find the perfect place to play with the launch of park information pages on the District of Sechelt website.

District staff created the pages this year in an effort to let people know about the 30 different parks the District maintains. The park pages at www.sechelt.ca show where the parks are located, the amenities contained in each park, directions to get there and an aerial view and photo of the park described.

"So if you're looking to find it on the Internet, you just need to go to our District webpage and click on play, and that'll bring you to parks and recreation and then down on the bottom right, you'll see parks and green spaces, click on that and that'll give you a list of all 30 parks that we maintain," said Perry Schmitt, Sechelt parks foreman, noting the results can also be categorized to display only off leash parks or playgrounds.

Schmitt was before councillors at the Nov. 9 committee of the whole meeting to go over the new system and also update council on what the parks department has been doing this year.

"One of the bigger projects that you've all driven by probably a number of times is the Davis Bay seawall, where we put in 48 planters," Schmitt said.

The planters are meant to protect the roadway from waves and debris in the event of a large storm. Schmitt noted the areas that are currently open act as access points to the seawall and can be closed off within one hour if a storm warning comes in.

"The other project we've been working on is down in Mission Point Park. We added some signage right by the bridge and most of the work has been revolving around Mission house," Schmitt said.

Crews put a new roof on the house this year and they installed shutters to protect the windows and doors from vandalism.

"But most of the work is happening inside where we have a contractor that's gone in and removed all the mould. We basically tore out all the insulation and drywall so that's where we're at right now and we're just about ready to put that all back together and this will be available for community groups in the future as a great meeting centre," Schmitt said.

Other work by parks staff this year includes the accessibility measures put in place on the grounds at Rockwood, safety fencing put up at Friendship Park, lighting and benches on the Trail Bay pier and float, continual upgrades of trails and boardwalks at Kinnikinnick Park, upgrades to beach access trails, bridges and stairs, installation of eight new water fountains (two with dog fountains attached), 12 new historical signs, and beautification projects throughout downtown Sechelt.

"We've been putting a lot of colour in the downtown sector. Most of our success has been in the form of these planters that we've been putting spring bulb plants in they add a lot of punch," Schmitt said.

All the work in the parks department has certainly kept crews busy, and Schmitt says there are more projects on the horizon.

The department is collaborating with the Suncoaster Trail Society on a bridge and trail project and they are planning a new accessible park in West Sechelt.