PELLY - Strolling through the streets of her beloved little community, Elie Lussier of Pelly couldn’t help but notice the accumulation of wear and tear that has impacted the local children’s play area. Suffering decades of sun, wind, and water damage, she said the splintering wooden playground structure has seen better days.
Sitting on a 2.5-acre lot located in the heart of Pelly, the structure was originally built by the local Lion’s Club some thirty years ago. With chunks of it missing and the potential for injuries to young children – like scrapes or slivers, Lussier said it’s no wonder the play area is no longer getting any use by local families.
Each time she walked by, Lussier imagined how a brand new outdoor playground area could service locals and visitors of all ages, and she soon embarked on a mission to see what could be done.
“How is it that our kids, families, and seniors have no place to hang out together or get some exercise?” said Lussier.
After making some local inquiries, Lussier was informed that although the town had no budget to finance a new playground, they would be supportive of a proper tear down of the old structure and the idea of building a new one on the property – provided someone would raise the money to pay for it.
Knowing that “someone” meant it was up to her, Lussier buckled down to research what the project would involve and rallied the talents and energies of five other local women to form a committee known as “Friends of Pelly.” Lussier would serve as the chairperson for the group.
When the six visionaries sat down together to brainstorm, they ultimately decided that in addition to a new play structure, they wanted the park to be a place that people of all ages could enjoy. They discussed ideas like a half-size outdoor basketball court, a volleyball pit, and some outdoor adult exercise equipment that could be used by seniors or parents while their children or grandchildren played on the new structures.
After spending a copious amount of time researching for a team that could deliver the vision, the committee finally settled on a company called “Playground R Us” headquartered in Springfield, Manitoba.
“Their Saskatchewan Playground Consultant, Serge Gette, came with glowing references from previous jobs,” said Lussier. “We believe he is a perfect fit for this project. We’ve secured a verbal agreement to work with Playgrounds R Us, and now we have the task of raising the money.”
Lussier said the cost of a new playground is far more significant than most people realize.
“We expect this to be anywhere from a three to four year project,” she said, “with an overall cost in the range of $500,000.”
Launching into fundraising efforts, Friends of Pelly is kicking things off by volunteering at the Pelly Happy Hearts Bingo (on the first Wednesday night of each month) with proceeds going towards the park. They have also set up a Drop and Go account at SARCAN, where recycling proceeds can be directed to the cause. Support has also come from the Pelly Lions Club and the Norquay Legion who have given generous donations.
Upcoming events include a $5,000 takeaway prize in a 50/50 raffle, a Canada Day Block Party with food, beer gardens, and carnival games, and prize raffles for donations offered up by Sask Energy, Sask Power, Sask Water, SaskTel, and a signed Roughriders jersey – to name a few.
“We know the goodhearted people of Pelly are going to help make this vision a reality,” said Lussier. “We look forward to bringing our little town back to life.”
