'WE'VE BEEN WAITING AND WAITING': LOCAL PLAYGROUND REPLACEMENTS UNDERWAY

The playground at Gosling Gardens Park — the first of five playgrounds scheduled for replacement this year by the City of Guelph — officially opened last week after what seemed like a long wait for neighbourhood residents.

"We were excited that the park was going to get done, and we've been waiting and waiting," said Angela Linwood, who lives nearby.

As she was walking by on Monday, May 29, construction fencing was still in place around the playground, but inside the fence, work appeared completed.

Linwood said it looked like the work had been finished shortly after Easter, but the fencing remained.

Despite that, she said people had been using the playground.

"We saw people this weekend in here using it," Linwood said, noting the fence had no lock and was easy to open.

Asked to provide an update on the playground replacement work, City of Guelph parks general manager Gene Matthews responded Tuesday, May 30, saying the playground had passed its safety inspection.

Asphalt work was completed May 26 to address a lip between the playground curb and the park's existing pathway that was a potential accessibility concern, Matthews said in an email, explaining why the playground had not opened sooner.

Updates on the other four parks the city is replacing this year were provided by manager of park and trail development Mallory

Lemon.

"Replacement of all five playgrounds is anticipated to be complete this fall, weather permitting," Lemon said in an email to the Mercury Tribune.

The other four parks are Goldie Park, Herb Markle Park, Howden Crescent

Park and Sunny Acres Park.

As of last week, work had started at only one of these parks — Goldie Park, where old playground equipment has already been removed.

Installation of the new

equipment is expected to be completed "later this summer," said Lemon.

"Construction of the remaining three playgrounds is anticipated to begin late summer or early fall and be complete by late fall," Lemon said.