City council agreed to support an addition to the Parksville Lions Club’s Ventureland children’s playground in Community Park.
Club representatives spoke to council on June 20 about their plans to add a new feature to the renown playground which currently has 80 individual features and draws families from all over Vancouver Island, they explained.
“It’s great value for our investment,” acting mayor Chris Burger told The News later, “it’s like we’re getting fifty-cent dollars,” he said of all the work the club does in fundraising for and maintaining the equipment.
Lions Duane Round and Ron Gamble told council the club had authorized $15,000 in funds towards the installed cost of $37,800 for the new climbing feature.
Council happily authorized, on July 4, the contribution of up to $20,000 from their 2011 parks operating budget, which included $30,000 set aside for minor capital expenditures.
The Lions said the playground gets over 50,000 visitors a year and the equipment would cost over $435,000 to replace today.