After a busy summer, most beaches are quiet at this time of year. But there is some activity occurring at Orillia’s Couchiching Beach Park these days.
Work is unfolding on a new playground at the city’s largest public beach.
The playground, near the public bathrooms, reached its life expectancy several years ago. In fact, a portion of the old structure was removed in 2014 due to safety concerns.
“The current structure offers little or reduced play value and increases potential injuries,” noted a staff report presented during the 2014 budget deliberations.
During the 2014 budget, the city earmarked $110,000 for the new playground that is now under construction.
Given the high profile nature of this waterfront park, the playground is ideally located to serve both local residents and visitors to the city, notes the staff report.
The playground design “will offer play experiences that are not currently found with other play equipment within the park” and will be “ideally situated for families with small children given the proximity of the accessible washroom building and beach area.”
Older children will continue to have access to the larger playground that was built in 2013 and is centrally located in the park.
In addition to the new playground, a new beach shower is also being installed.
It’s hoped the construction will be completed this month.
