A ribbon was cut during a ceremony at the Victoria School grounds in Kamsack on Friday, marking the official opening of Sparty Park.
Held by Kamsack Mayor Rod Gardner; Kendra Simon, vice-president of Victoria School; Alana Smutt and Shelley Filipchuk, members of the Victoria School Community Council playground committee, the ribbon was cut by Leah Schwartz, who as a Grade 4 student at the school had put forward the name for the park, which suggests the Spartans, the name of sports teams at the Kamsack Comprehensive Institute.
Welcoming everyone to the event, Simon said that it was a “small but mighty committee” that had been formed in the fall of 2014 to embark on creating an extension of the Victoria School Playground “so that all children regardless of ability level would be able to interact with each other.
“Due to an overwhelming response from our sponsors, we were able to start the installation of the park in July 2015,” Simon said. “As you can see, it has some engaging features that are enjoyed by students and community members.
“The rubber surfacing allows people who use chairs for mobility the ease of getting around the playground. The two specialized swings provide a variety of body types the opportunity to enjoy a swing. The play panels are very interactive and designed to stimulate creativity in all children.
“Our accessible sand tables and meeting table allows all peers to visit and play together,” she said. “Our children and community are thoroughly enjoying the added sun shelter for interacting as well as a shady place to cool off on those sunny days.
“All of the elements for our park were carefully chosen to ensure all students could enjoy it for years to come,” she said. “We are so pleased that such a park could be created in our community.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Mayor Gardner said that one of the best parts of his job as mayor is to attend such functions. He congratulated the committee and reminded everyone that such a development does not happen by itself; rather it takes volunteers and their work.
This facility adds to the legacy of the school, Gardner said. Congratulations.
“Awesome, eh?” Mark Forsythe, superintendent of education for the Good Spirit School Division, shouted, eliciting cheers from the crowd.
This committee has done a wonderful job, he said.
This could not have happened without the help of businesses and community members, he said, explaining that living across the street from the facility he knows firsthand that the Victoria School playground is a much-used facility.
“There are kids here all the time,” he said, “That’s all because of the work you’re doing.”
Recognizing and thanking the “partners and sponsors who have supported us to make this dream a reality,” Simon first mentioned members of the playground committee: Shelley Filipchuk (chair), Andrea Veregin, Alana Smutt, Nancy Brunt, Carol Dutcheshen and Amanda Burback.
She said that Maureen Blight, the occupational Therapist with the GSSD, “consulted and supported all equipment matters. She acknowledged Leah Schwartz, who named the park, and thanked Kelly Krozin and his crew at 1 Stop Playgrounds for the installation; Valley Lawn Care for the installation of sod, and Grandma B’s Greenhouse for consulting on the shrubs planted around the sun shelter.
“Our sponsors helped us raise over $90,000 to create the park,” she said, listing the Community Initiatives Fund, the Old Dog Run, Kinsmen Telemiracle Foundation, Affinity Credit Union, TD Band, Sunrise Health Region, Town of Kamsack, RM of Cote, Saskatchewan Lotteries and individual donations from community members and businesses.
“This park would not have been possible without all of your support and belief that all children should ands can play together,” she said. “We thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Invited to the front for the ribbon-cutting ceremony were William Lozinsky and his family: Nariko, Jameson, Leah, Quannah, Tylan and Shilo.
The event concluded with the serving of lunch for the special guests.
