A new playground has finished construction in downtown Fort Saskatchewan, but this one has a catch -- it's all made from natural materials.
The Fort, which finished construction on Thursday (Nov. 17), is in the middle of its final inspection with an expected opening day of Tuesday (Nov. 22). The playground is located next to the Fort Heritage Precinct.
According to Jenelle Hart, parks services manager with The City of Fort Saskatchewan, studies show that kids need to get out and play in natural areas.
"[We're] providing a safe area for kids to engage in dirt, mud, trees, and bark," Hart said. "Playing on something organic is something we've lost over the years, and so we wanted to provide this opportunity for kids in the area."
Some of the playground's attractions include pathways made from logs, swings, rope climbing, large boulders, and a steel drum set that Hart called "musical mushrooms".
"We also preserved the original fort that the kids had made there over the past couple of years. We were able to ensure that what the public has made is available for the kids to play with, as well."
The city is hoping to host an official grand opening ceremony at some point during the Spring.