Fort St. John continues plans for upgrades at Kin Park, including pump track

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — The City of Fort St. John is continuing plans for upgrades at the east side of Kin Park.

During a regular council meeting on December 11th, council awarded the playground supply and the pump track procurement, as well as received some information on the washrooms that will be installed at the park.

The City of Fort St. John awarded the East Kin Park Playground supply to Parkworks Solution Corporation out of Kelowna for $354,606.34.

Following the completion of the work on the west portion of Kin Park, the city issued a request for proposal (RFP) for the design and supply of playground equipment on the east side.

According to a report from the city’s director of public works and utilities, Jeremy Garner, upgrades will include a playground, washroom, parking lot paving and lighting and an asphalt pump track, with all work anticipated to be finished by the fall of 2024.

The playground will have a rubberized play surface, which will be purchased and installed separately.

During the discussion about Kin Park, councillor Jim Lequiere asked if the rubberized surface at the parkour park behind the Pomeroy Sport Centre has been maintained since it was installed.

Councillor Trevor Bolin said vandalism is the only issue with the surfacing at the park, and Garner added that staff do have the training to repair damage.

The report says the new playground with rubberized surfacing will be installed south of the existing playground, allowing that portion of the park to remain open while the new equipment is installed. 

Once the new playground is installed, the existing structure will be removed.

Councillor Tony Zabinsky asked if the removed equipment could be repurposed and given to a private school or School District 60.

CAO Milo MacDonald said there is liability involved in selling used equipment.

“Playground equipment has all kinds of specialized fasteners that are critical to their performance,” MacDonald explained.

“It also has to be installed in a way that is compliant with regulations over appropriate services.”

He said everyone would feel better about giving the equipment over to someone who would “give it a second life,” but noted that there might be some additional expenses for the buyer to ensure the structure is safe for use.

“For us to be able to meet our liability requirements, we would have to have an assurance from the purchaser that if it was given a second life, it would be installed by a certified and qualified installer,” MacDonald said.

The CAO said it could be an option, but typically, they recycle playground equipment.

The 2023 capital budget included funds to purchase the equipment, washrooms, and design works to install the equipment in 2024.

A review team was organized, and feedback was gathered from various community youth, with the results being included in the RFP.

The city received detailed submissions from five suppliers, each giving two options.

City staff recommended Parkworks Solution Corporation with ideas from both options.

During the council meeting, city staff also recommended the city award the design and construction of a 2,000 square metre pump track for Kin Park to Canadian Ramp Company, from Oakville, Ontario, for $600,000 before taxes.

The track will include a beginner circuit and one for more advanced riders.

Councillor Sarah MacDougall asked if the track would require significant maintenance because it’s made of asphalt and may heave.

“Part of the design is a significant underdrain system to drain water away, and that’s what contributes to heaving on asphalt,” Garner said.

“It won’t be too much, just normal maintenance for replacing it. There won’t be heavy traffic on it, like on streets. It should be mostly bike traffic.”

Councillor Lequiere asked about the city’s liability for the use of the track.

CAO MacDonald said the city has insurance to cover them in relation to all municipal activities, including through ICBC for city vehicles.

Councillor Byron Stewart wondered if the dirt track would be upgraded and if that was included in the Kin Park upgrades project.

Garner said city staff met with a local man and his wife who wanted to work with them on upgrading the dirt track, but that it is not included in these upgrades and instead will be an operational component.

“The dirt track has been there a long time; it needs some upgrades,” Garner said.

“We’re going to work with this local fellow that was quite a rider in Kamloops and look at what improvements can be made. That’ll be a 2024, likely an operational funded project.”

Councillors were glad the dirt track will remain and be upgraded.

A report regarding the washrooms was also discussed during the meeting and will cost approximately $237,135.

The new washrooms will be installed close to the playground and the parking lot. 

The project’s first phase covered the west portion of the park. Work so far has included a pavilion, a paved parking lot, paved and lit trails, a new playground and fitness equipment, skateboard and scooter pads, batting cages, an outdoor skating rink, a boarded hockey rink and pickleball courts. 

Mayor Lilia Hansen said the city has received many compliments about the upgrades to Kin Park so far and thanked city staff for their work.

All three reports can be viewed below: