The community of Kisbey and surrounding area celebrated on Saturday, Oct. 5, after much hard work was given this year in the construction of a new playground.
Following approximately six months of fundraising, organizing, and finally being able to set up the play structure the playground committee was pleased to invite the community for a barbeque and ribbon cutting.
Amber Curtis, a committee member, explained that it was surreal how quickly everything came together.
"[I]t feels really rewarding to see it all done now," Curtis said. "When you're in the moment it feels like it's going pretty slow, then all of a sudden we're in October and this is done. The construction and everything was ahead of schedule. It was really nice."
The decision to build came with the fact that the old playground had come to be located on a main truck route through the town. In addition to thoughts of safety, the community also suffered during floods in 2011, which possibly weakened trees in the area. That fall then brought strong winds which forced trees to fall onto play structures completely mangling swing sets, slides, and more.
Since then members of the community began brainstorming the best solution to the question of the play park. Overall because of the outdated equipment, the destroyed infrastructure, and the truck route a decision was made to rebuild near the Rec Centre, which is also next to the campground in Kisbey.
Much hard work was put into the new playground by the committee and dedicated volunteers.
"The community has been amazing, none of it would have been possible without them," Curtis said. "Anywhere from volunteers to fundraising and people donating, we've just been really blessed in that aspect; it's been great living in a small community."
"I love being here, I moved away for 10 years and came back, and I wouldn't have it any other way."
This community spirit is something that Curtis appreciates greatly. She loves to see the support and volunteerism for a better life in the town each and every day from the many community members always involved.
"I just can't say thank you enough to the committee and the community, everybody has been so good," Curtis exclaimed. "...it's been awesome."
Though the main structure has been put in place the committee will not be dissolved as they still have plans for the future.
"Come spring... we've been looking into options like landscaping, we don't know about fencing, swing sets, just individual pieces we would like to add to it a little bit more," Curtis explained.
"We're going to get a plaque up of our sponsors come spring time and kind of go from there. We don't know exactly what the next step is."
Though the committee is unsure of the specifics of the future, they are very pleased with how the playground has come together so far and look forward to finishing their project come the New Year.
It has taken a lot of hard work and community dedication to achieve so much in such little time, but this is what living in small town Saskatchewan brings with it, a people dedicated to the children in their community and a hope to help them grow into active, caring individuals.
