Users of Town of Smithers parks facilities should be pleased with improvements made over the past half year, and in the works for the near future. As part of the Town’s recently released five year plan, $80,000 was set aside for work on various playing fields, outdoor sports facilities and playgrounds.
Andrew Hillaby, Director of Recreation, Parks and Culture, summed up the work as “quite a few upgrades to quite a few parks.”
Some of the key points include a new rugby pitch, on the field at Heritage Park, beside the Bulkley Valley District Pool. One baseball diamond was removed – and a new one built at Elks Park – and now both rugby and baseball players have upgraded fields.
“We desperately needed a rugby pitch,” said Hillaby.
The field replaces a ball diamond that wasn’t in the most ideal spot to begin with, he said.
“There was the odd time that a ball would bounce across highway 16,” he said.
The baseball diamonds at Elks Park have benefited as well, including fencing upgrades to Provincial standards, meaning local groups can now host tournaments previously reserved for towns with facilities that were up to code.
Another project not yet completed will be the resurfacing of the Montreal Street tennis courts, which happens roughly every five years. That will happen in July, after the school’s tennis season has finished.
“There is a growing demand for adult and youth tennis in Smithers,” said Hillaby.
Other projects covered by the funding include new playground equipment at Yorke-Hardy, Heritage and Bulkley Drive Parks. Turner Way will also be the home of a brand new playground, as that end of town was found to be lacking in playground facilities.