Fancy a round of mini golf or a spirited game of table tennis?
The well-received “Street FUN-iture” pop-up parks that Delta saw last summer are making a comeback this year.
During council’s March 7 meeting, civic politicians approved the 2022 FUN-iture program, which plans for a total of four pop-up parks, three outdoor reading rooms, a year-round urban play park and an 18-hole miniature golf course to be shared between South and North Delta.
“I enjoyed seeing grandparents and grandchildren playing bocce ball together [last summer]. I love that we’re building on this program this year with the addition of a miniature golf course ... I think it’ll be a great way to, as the report states, to find opportunities to connect our community,” said Coun. Dylan Kruger.
The pop-up parks are slotted for Bridge Street and Elliott Street in Ladner as well as the wharf, at Bayside Village in Tsawwassen and Sunstone Village in North Delta, while the outdoor reading rooms will be outside of Delta’s three libraries.
North Delta’s Sungod Recreation Centre will become the home of the year-round play park, and the mini golf course will be split between South Delta at the “Back Nine” on Bridge St. in Ladner and the “Front Nine” at Sunstone Village in North Delta.
Pop-up parks and the urban play park will include a variety of Street FUN-iture, including bocce, foosball, table tennis and cornhole games, shaded picnic tables, wooden cable-spool tables and stools, moveable patio tables and chairs, as well as outdoor patio lighting on timers.
Outdoor reading rooms will include a variety of patio chairs and shaded picnic tables, as well, and both the reading rooms and pop-up parks will be situated on recycled synthetic turf.
“I, too, support this a hundred per cent ... It’s really evolving to represent great activities, which are at the heart of the health and wellbeing of our community, and I love it ... I love that it’s expanding,” added Coun. Jeannie Kanakos.
Mayor George Harvie, and councillors Alicia Guichon and Dan Copeland also expressed their appreciation for the program and enthusiasm to see families playing in the pop-up parks again this summer.
Council then referred the report to the city’s Parks, Recreation and Culture department so they could provide feedback, if needed.
Though Delta council originally allotted $50,000 for the 2022 Street FUN-iture installations, the city will be spending an additional $60,000 for the mini golf course. However, the staff report notes that the 3,000 square feet course will be used year-round within Delta facilities for special community events outside of the pop-up parks timeframe.
Street FUN-iture will be set up late in the spring or early in the summer and will be removed after Labour Day on Sept. 6. Some of the chairs may remain at Elliot St. and at the outdoor reading rooms until after Thanksgiving.
