The Aurora Community Space is officially open after a ribbon cutting under blue skies on July 3.
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More than 100 people attended as the City of Lloydminster hosted a community barbecue with the Cenovus Energy Block Party Trailer on site. Maz Entertainment got the party started with music before an outdoor screening of Inside Out 2.
The space is comprised of two parks.
“There are two parks, so you’ve got the spray park that will be used throughout the summer, as well as a park with playground equipment,” said Lloydminster Mayor Gerald Aalbers, noting the park is connected to the city’s system of bike trails.
“It’s an excellent location and it services the entire area.”
The city designed the park to be accessible for all.
“You look at some of the features, they’re accessible for kids,” he said. “The merry-go-round here, you can actually be in a wheelchair (and use it). Those are the kind of important things we bring to more facilities and items for children to play on.”
Accessibility is also something important to the Lloydminster and District Co-op.
“It turned out great, and it’s accessible, which is incredible for our community to have another accessible playground,” said the Co-op’s marketing co-ordinator Hailey Alexander.
The project has been in the works for a long time after being approved in 2023.
“I’d just like to thank everybody that’s been involved and their patience, (especially) the neighbourhood because things took a little while to get everything in place,” said Aalbers.
The city received a $50,000 grant from the Co-op for the project.
“We do this wonderful thing every year called the Community Grant Program. This was last year’s winner,” said Alexander, noting projects like this are important to the Co-op.
“This is near and dear to our hearts,” she said. “Not only is it the Co-op community playground, it’s also an up-and-coming neighbourhood.
“It’s so nice, a flourishing place kids can come and gather. We’re really excited about it.”
The Co-op’s grant program will be open again next year, in addition to a variety of grants and sponsorship opportunities people can apply for.
“If you watch our social medias and our website, we post about when the Co-op community grant comes out.”
The Aurora Community Space is a 2,840 sq. ft. park featuring a large play structure and a 12-feature splash pad.
According to city documents from June 19, 2023, the total project cost is $579,082.14.
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