Saturday, July 11, 2015

Playground At Harewood Centennial Park Opens

Gate recalls dairy barn that used to occupy this site
Dignitaries, members of the Lions Club and residents attend official opening
Waterpark feature theme pays tribute to Nanaimo's coal mining history

Residents, city officials and members of the Nanaimo Lions Club were on hand for the official opening of Phase 1 of the Harewood Centennial Park Improvement Plan.

The official ribbon cutting was done by Councillor Thorpe from the City and Heather Campbell of the Harewood Neighbourhood Association. Mr. Larry Johannes presented the city with a cheque for $15,000 on behalf of the Nanaimo Lion's Club.

This first phase of the improvement plan includes a new destination playground with a zip line, climbing wall renovations, utility upgrades, mountain bike area and public access to 3 more acres of parkland.

The second phase of the improvement plan are to include a covered sport court, perimeter trail, youth park and an improved lacrosse box and wash-rooms.

The Harewood Neighbourhood Association is undertaking an ambitious plan to build a $300,000 skateboard park on the site which is in the early development stages.

This is a popular park with no less than three day camp buses full of kids on site enjoying the many fun activities available. The water park feature is likely the best in all of Nanaimo and was being enjoyed under blue skies and warm temperatures.

While at the opening I had chance to talk with Loyd Sherry who remembers when the area occupied by Sherry Fields was a corn field used to raise feed for the dairy farm that once occupied this site. Apparently after a days swimming at Colliery Dam Park, it was not uncommon for kids to 'borrow' a cob of corn from the field on the way home.

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