Media Releases

Amherst taking steps to make parks accessible to all

The Town of Amherst believes in being inclusive and accessible. To that end, it is taking steps to make its parks more accessible to all

The Amherst town council has budgeted slightly more than $72,000 in its 2022-23 capital budget for accessible green space projects that will see four of its parks become more accessible through the installation of either asphalt or concrete pathways.

.“The existing access to the play structures, washrooms or splash pads in our parks is typically via a gravel or crusher-dust path,” Mayor David Kogon said. “While these pathways provide some degree of accessibility, they are not easily navigated by persons with limited mobility.

“Council believes the construction of these asphalt or concrete pathways will benefit all users, especially those with limited mobility. It will also help us meet our priority of being an inclusive, equitable and accessible community for all.”

Work on the project began on Wednesday, Aug. 24, 2022, when a crew from Costin Paving and Contracting Ltd. began preparing the base for an asphalt accessible pathway in the Lions Park. The $31,000 project will see the pathway begin on Hill Street and travel to the park’s splashpad and play structures.

As the project progresses, about $28,000 will be spent on an accessible asphalt pathway in Dickey Park, which will run from East Pleasant Street to the park’s splashpad. In addition, an asphalt pathway will be constructed in the Elmwood Drive Park, at a cost of about $8,000 that will make access to the washrooms and food pantry more accessible.

About $5,000 will be spent building a concrete pathway in the Beacon Street Park that will make it easier for all to access that park’s washroom and play structure.

These projects are being funded 50 per cent by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, under its Canada Community Revitalization Fund.