Paul Bickford/NNSL photo
The beach at the Hay River Territorial Park is getting new playground equipment.
Kim Wilkins, the acting regional superintendent for the South Slave with the Department of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI), said the change is definitely going to be noticeable.
"It's going to be bigger," she said of the new playground set. "So there's going to be more equipment there for the kids. But it is really to further the commitment for the department to provide quality service and facilities to the public. This is just one of the examples of that continued investment."
The installation is being done by the Hay River contracting company West End Enterprises Ltd, and will cost approximately $40,000.
The new equipment set will be able to accommodate more children, Wilkins added. "The previous one was only suitable for ages one to five, and this new set will be for ages one to 10," she said.
Installation work on the new playground equipment began in late August. Depending on weather, it should be completed this week. Rain has hampered the project, and was the cause of a weeks-long delay that hindered the project for getting underway.
Wilkins said the construction was scheduled for late in the summer to ensure public and workplace safety.
"They're doing that now because there's less traffic at the beach this time of year. So there's less of a hazard for the public," she explained. "We don't want too many kids running around there when the contractor is trying to do their job and get the new stuff up."
The new playground equipment is not the only improvement at the Hay River Beach.
Wilkins noted that ITI has plans for a concession building and change room, which will be located on the west side of an existing building at the beach.
"The design of the building is almost finalized, and as soon as that's done it will be going out to competitive tender in the near future," she said, adding it is hoped construction will take place this year and will cost approximately $120,000. "It won't be open this season, but we're hoping to have the building completed."
Earlier this summer, a new washroom building was also constructed at the beach.