Wawa Municipal Council's given tentative approval for accessible playground equipment at the Upper Mission Park.
Following on discussions in previous meetings - particularly the February 4th Corporate Planning Committee meeting - Council was told there were over 300 signatures to a letter and subsequent petition in favour of "reinstating" the park - Mayor Melanie Pilon also read three letters on the issue, which emphasized the Municipality's obligation to maintain levels of service, pointed out some safety concerns regarding the Marina Park, and highlighted the benefits for tourism and resident attraction and retention - the letter writers were also given an opportunity to speak, reiterating their key points and saying they're open to work with Council and different options, but want a commitment to the park's future, also noting it is included within MPAC's property assessments.
Community Services and Tourism Director Alex Patterson then delivered a Council-requested report on the park, noting there's no single standard regarding number of parks per population - though Wawa is in the "high average" for parkland and number of parks per capita compared to nearby communities - but it also highlighted a lack of an "accessible" park and that residents may be willing to travel to one, if available, breaking down a wheelchair accessible option or a "sensory" focused option that would fit the $50,000 budget previously proposed, particularly as some local businesses have offered to donate aggregate to help, and emphasized a willingness to work with residents on "value-added" items outside of the playground equipment.
In the end, Council was asked to consider a resolution which agreed to include the project as "subject to funding" - whether by grant or a donation - in the 2025 budget and - if that is not successful this year - to "consider" it in deliberations for the 2026 budget.
Councillor Cathy Cannon - who'd previously emphasized she was "never against the park", just wanted to follow due diligence and was concerned about the cost for the Municipality - raised issues with the latter stipulation, seeking to have it removed, something backed by Councillor Mitch Hatfield, but that was voted down by Councillors Jim Hoffmann and Joe Opato and Mayor Melanie Pilon - a subsequent recorded vote saw the resolution passed along the same lines, with Cannon and Hatfield opposed and Hoffmann, Opato, and Pilon in favour.
Treasurer Manuela Batovanja had recommended earlier in their meetings that Council approve the 2025 operating and capital budgets in their next meeting - on March 4th - but not the rest of the 4-year plan outlined, instead discussing those further in meetings over the year.