Mohawk Park Playground has won a Landscape Ontario Award of Excellence in the category of Commercial Construction exceeding $250,000.
“We are immensely proud to be a co-recipient of this reward alongside Oakridge Group Inc.,” said Jennifer Elliott, Director of Engineering Services, City of Brantford. “The new playground at Mohawk Park resulted from conceptual designs and consultations led by our Parks Design and Development division and were brought to life by the team at Oakridge Landscape Contractors.”
Design work for this project began in 2019 with a public consultation process, which involved the general public and students from the W. Ross Macdonald School for the Blind. The project was tendered in the spring of 2020 and was awarded to Oakridge Landscape Contractors.
The accessible playground at Mohawk Park officially re-opened in October 2020 and continues to be a major draw not only for parents and children within the City, but from neighbouring communities as well. Some of the features include new playground equipment and swings with accessible rubber surfacing, musical play components, a hill slide and extra-large climbers and sand play area. The pathways are paved with asphalt and the play equipment is fully-accessible.
“It’s important to create safe and inclusive places for children and caregivers of all abilities,” said Jenny Sawicki, Accessibility Coordinator, City of Brantford. “Paved pathways, rubber surfacing, and ramped play equipment make it easier for users of mobility devices and those with limited mobility to enjoy the playground, and sensory elements such as musical play components and sand play areas are important for children who may not enjoy the playground’s physical components.”
Landscape Ontario’s Awards of Excellence is an annual competition that celebrates excellence in design and craftsmanship in landscape construction, maintenance, lighting, and irrigation projects. Submissions are judged by a panel of respected horticulture industry experts.
