ATHABASCA – Athabasca County councillors are throwing some extra money into the pot for a local playground after discovering the pre-existing structure was taken down last year.
During the May 27 meeting councillors voted 5-2 in favour of a motion to approve an additional $2,500 for a playground in Caslan after administration said they had already put $5,000 into the project. Councillors Kelly Chamzuk and Joe Gerlach were opposed, and councillors Natasha Kapitaniuk and Camille Wallach were away at a conference.
“Realizing now that they do not have a playground at all, I’m on board with making sure our children have a safe place to play,” said Coun Cromwell, who suggested the extra donation.
The Caslan School Council Fundraising Committee had initially reached out to the county for the $5,000 donation, which administration is able to provide without getting council’s approval per policy 7610.
The overall project is expected to cost just over a quarter million, with the new playground being designed by a qualified playground supplier.
The fundraising committee is hoping to receive the $25,000 Al-Pac community enhancement grant, as well as just over $100,000 from the provincial community facility enhancement program.
A further $94,000 for the project comes from pre-existing funds raised by the committee as well as by the Northern Lights Public School division.
Minns questioned why the county should put in extra money for the project when other community partners hadn’t done so, although he didn’t specify which community partners he was referring to.
“It is an Athabasca County hamlet with Athabasca County residents, who are remote. Unlike people who live within 15 kilometres of Athabasca, it is a chore and a challenge to go to things like our playgrounds, our splash parks, and our Multiplex,” said Cromwell in response.
Currently, 86 students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 attend Caslan School, including a significant number from Buffalo Lake Métis Settlement according to the report that was provided to councillors in their agenda.
Board chair Karen Packard did not respond to a request for comment before publication.
