The Town of Banff will take over operation and maintenance of a playground on Banff Avenue.
Council has decided to increase its 2016 operating budget by $13,730 after Banff’s Rotary Club asked the municipality to take over ongoing maintenance of the large park and playground in the 500 block of Banff Avenue. The money will come from the budget stabilization fund.
Town officials say the cost is based on 24 weeks of turf and horticultural maintenance, as well as playground inspections conducted weekly in the high season and monthly in winter.
“Administration’s labour model currently cannot support this initiative with existing labour resources without affecting council approved service delivery,” said Nadine Setzer, the Town of Banff’s grounds supervisor.
The Banff Rotary Club developed the park on Banff Avenue in the 1980s, investing more than $250,000. The club has continued to spend about $10,000 a year on maintenance and repairs.
Dean Bailey, a member of Banff’s Rotary Club, said park maintenance used to be done by club members, but with busier work schedules and shrinking membership, the decision to contract the work out was made about 15 years ago.
“The park has served the northwest quadrant of the community for over 40 years and would benefit from the same excellent level of care provided by the Town in its other parks and playgrounds,” he said.
As a service club, Banff Rotary now wants to look at other opportunities to work with youth in the community and is looking to a reorganization of the club through a membership drive and new fundraising opportunities.
Bailey said the club is interested in supporting fundraising initiatives for the new skateboard park as part of redevelopment plans for the recreation grounds.
He said the club is in a position to make application for a number of grants for the project.
“We will work collaboratively with the Town and skateboard association to actively seek and or fundraise towards this park,” said Bailey.
