The Dunsmuir Community Park in Electoral Area H is being upgraded.
A groundbreaking ceremony was held recently to kick-off Phase 1 construction of the park that is expected to be completed by the end of October.
Area H Director and chair of the Regional District of Nanaimo board, Bill Veenhof, was on hand to mark the start of the work on the two-hectare community park that was officially acquired by the RDN in 1982.
“We are extremely proud of our RDN Parks and Trails and it is great to celebrate the start of an exciting time for the Dunsmuir Community Park and larger community,” said Veenhof.
“Thank you to the community that helped shaped the vision of the future of this park.”
Prior to the RDN acquiring the property, the community had long used it as a park. Community volunteers built the tennis court in 1971 for the BC Centennial Celebration, and in 1999 volunteers built the existing small asphalt sports court.
The community has been involved in planning upgrades to the park that led to the final Dunsmuir Community Park Master Plan that was approved by the RDN Board of Directors in early 2018.
Park construction will be completed in phases as financing is secured. Upon completion of all phases, the park will include a new 28-m by 15-m asphalt, fenced sports court that will accommodate four courts for portable pickleball, ball hockey, and basketball; a playground that includes play equipment, swings, and concrete paths that wind through the space; a shade structure, picnic benches, seating, an outhouse with cedar surround, garbage can and a new parking lot and entrance driveway.
Phase 1 construction, which will cost $215,000, is funded through the Electoral Area H Community Parks Budget and Community Works fund, along with $30,000 in donations. That money will see the demolition of the existing courts followed by the construction of the new sports court, parking lot and driveway.