Richelieu next up on parks agenda

Posted Jan 19, 2012 By Michelle Nash

EMC news - Richelieu Park in Vanier has received start-up funding from the city to help rejuvenate the park.

The Vanier Community Association has been tackling parks in the neighbourhood with new-found passion, with their most recent success represented by a complete overhaul of Émond Park, which features new play structures and rubber flooring.

The latest park on the association's fix list is Richelieu Park, which will receive $25,000 from the city to go towards the community's plans for renewal.

"It is not enough for us to get everything we want done, but it is a great start and something we can work towards matching," Elaine Léger, parks and recreation committee chairwoman said.

Léger is looking at the potential for a splash pad to be one of the items added during the renewal. The city-planned upgrades to the park are not scheduled to start until 2015, with the playground equipment to be replaced until 2019.

Léger said they were looking for outside funding help to update the park sooner because of the proximity to the community centre.

She made the request for funding to Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury's office. The councillor said the money will go towards renewal of the existing equipment.

"This park is one of the most important parks in Vanier," Fleury said. "The library is there, the community centre is there, you don't want to lose that hub, you want to build on it."

Léger is very excited to start this park project.

"It is my wish in 2012 to make Richelieu Park a great place to go," she said.

For more information about how to participate in the assiciation's parks and recreation committee, residents can contact through the community association email at vca.acv@gmail.com .

michelle.nash@metroland.com