The big red slide of West Quesnel lore is no more.
In its place however, is another — fairly large — red slide along with a variety of brand new, ready to be played-on features that neighbourhood kids will create many memories with.
The Uplands Park’s Patchett Street playground held its official opening last Wednesday (June 12). It was attended by Mayor Bob Simpson and a couple dozen students from Voyageur, who were eager to test out the new equipment.
Their classmates helped design the park they were playing on and by the squeals of joy, they must have made some good decisions.
The Voyageur grade 5, 6 and 7 students opted for what looks like a giant pirate ship/ castle/ treehouse-style playground with a rope swing as the park’s main feature. They also insisted on another large red slide, as there was still a lot of nostalgia for the old tube.
There is also a little fairy tale house for the smaller kids and a rubberized hill with some wonderful climbing features on both sides of — and under — the treehouse.
When Mayor Simpson presented the designs to the kids who helped pick the features, he asked if anything was missing.
“Where are the swings?” was the top question he received back.
“The old park didn’t have swings,” Simpson said at the opening. “As they had been taken out a long time ago, so when we were designing this park, we weren’t thinking of putting swings back in again.
“We asked the students if they wanted swings and you can imagine what they said …” He paused, waiting for a response from those gathered in front of him.
A reserved, “yes,” followed from a few of the students, so Simpson encouraged them a little more.
“But they said it way louder than that. They said?”
“YEESSSSSS,” the kids yelled at the top of their lungs.
“That’s exactly what they said, so there’s your swings.”
Simpson gestured behind to a swing set and a second cheer went up.
After a short question period, the ribbon was cut and the play began again.
It should continue throughout the summer and for many seasons to come.
READ MORE: Patchett Street Park’s cool new playground designs come with high price tag
ronan.odoherty@quesnelobserver.com
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