Red Deer’s first nature playground is gaining ground.
Jim Robertson, Kerry Wood Nature Centre executive director, said they are in the final stages of wrapping up the design for the estimated $300,000 project.
Robertson said he hopes the new playground will open something in the fall, possibly for the Labour Day weekend.
The playground will wrap around the north end of the centre between the parking lot and the Gaetz Lakes Sanctuary. It will not infringe on the sanctuary.
It is intended to be a playground for all ages where people can have fun in the woods without fear of getting lost or hurt.
“It serves as a bridge between the built up world in the front of our building and in our parking lot and the wildlife and the wild sanctuary in behind,” said Robertson. “It gives children safe, creative play in nature. It’s going to be quite heavily used.”
Most of the features will be directly north of the centre and may include an amphitheatre, rope courses and an area for school.
Construction should take about a month.
The centre raised the money through corporate sponsorships, provincial funding and private donors.
The playground is part of the 2013 interpretive master plan for Waskasoo Park.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com