HIGH RIVER, AB: On October 9 and 10 the Town of High River will be assisting with the installation of the new playground in the Hamptons and would like to invite all High River residents to volunteer their time to support the project.
Approximately 40 volunteers are needed and can choose between a 4 hour (8 a.m. – 12 p.m., or 12 – 4 p.m.) or 8 hour (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.) shift on either day.
“The building of this new playground in collaboration with residents of the Hamptons is an opportunity for council to show support for, and invest in the future of a community that was hard-hit by the 2013 Flood,” said Mayor Snodgrass.
A community engagement process began in June 2015 with a neighbourhood block party at the site of the future playground. Residents were invited to provide their vision and ideas for elements they would like to see in a new playground in the Hamptons community. This information was then compiled into a Request for Proposal (RFP) which received three submissions, based on the priorities of the residents.
At the end of August, Hamptons community members gathered again to vote on which of the three proposals that they liked best and a submission from Park n’ Play Design Co. Ltd. was chosen.
The company’s submission comes with a $12,000 in-kind donation of equipment that will be placed in a lot located at the intersection of Hamptons Blvd & Hampshire Way NE. Shawne Excavating & Trucking Ltd. have also donated their time and equipment to make this project a reality.
“We have had an extraordinarily positive experience working with this community, specifically the engagement of the children in this neighbourhood seeing their ideas come to life,” said Caitland Asmundson, community support worker with High River FCSS. “Now we would really like to see the greater community of High River step forward to volunteer their time and support this project for the benefit of the entire Town.”
Asmundson also suggests that if residents are unable to volunteer their time, there is a need for tools, wheelbarrows, rakes and other supplies that could be loaned to the project for the two days.
Anyone interested in volunteering or providing supplies is welcome to contact Caitland Asmundson at (403) 603-3447 or casmundson@highriver.ca