By Melissa MacKenzie

Park In The Hart Goes Accessible

Nov 8, 2018 | 12:35 PM

PRINCE GEORGE — Heather Park Elementary has seen an upgrade with the installation of a fully accessible playground. 

The park is wheelchair accessible and has several features for people of all mobility levels including:

• A ramp so wheelchair users can have access to an elevated playing experience
• Swings with harnesses for those with limited upper-body mobility
• “Friendship swing” so two people can swing together
• Roller slide for safe, sensory play

Through seven years of fundraising and sponsorships from companies around the city, the Heather Park Parent Advisory Council was able to raise the necessary $125,000 to bring this park to life.

“The Heather Park Parent Advisory Council saw a need in our area for more safe and accessible playgrounds that could be enjoyed by all children, and worked hard to raise the funds necessary to achieve our goal,” says PAC member Rosalie Mellott.

Downtown Safety

String of downtown fires has business owners fed up

5h ago

UNBC AWARD

UNBC earns Canada West Feature of the Year Award

5h ago

BC Wildfires

Wildfire causes Highway closure just south of Chetwynd

5h ago

The city has a five-year playground plan in place to remove, replace and add to playgrounds in the city, however, Heather Park was not on this list. When the PAC came forward with the funds to build the park, the city was happy to get on board.

“We piggybacked with them on our playground plans so that they could provide a playground that was different than all the other ones we had up here,” says Parks Supervisor, Chris Bjorn.

“We now look through a lens of everything we do may not be a fully accessible playground but we try and add those kinds of components,” says Bjorn in regards to future accessible playgrounds.