The City of Castlegar has been recognized again for its outstanding efforts in community beautification at the 2024 Communities in Bloom National Awards Ceremony.
Castlegar won the Scotts Turf Builder Outstanding Achievement Landscape Award which recognizes the city's dedication to sustainable landscape design and its commitment to enhancing public spaces.
The award specifically highlights the castle playground at Millennium Park & Ponds.
The play equipment itself is impressive as Canada’s tallest castle play structure. But the 527-square-meter space around the playground also earned the approval of the Communities in Bloom judges.
The city says the project was designed with both environmental sustainability and accessibility in mind.
"The castle play structure highlights how sustainable practices can be integrated into innovative design," says Mayor Maria McFaddin. "We’re proud to receive national recognition for our efforts and to continue fostering environmental stewardship in our parks and public spaces."
Key playground features include:
• The use of Robinia wood, a renewable, weather-resistant material.
• Incorporating native plants such as Kinnikinnick, Arrowleaf balsamroot, and Shrubby penstemon reduces water demand and supports local biodiversity.
• The playground’s safety surfacing uses a base of recycled rubber for durability, minimizing the need for frequent maintenance and replacement.
• Landscaping choices that promote long-term sustainability include nine new shade trees and recycled plastic benches, contributing to a minimal maintenance approach.
The new playground was funded with a $1.2-million grant from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The City of Castlegar covered the remaining $686,000 of the $1.866-million budget.
The project team included Urban Systems Ltd., responsible for the landscape and civil design; ParkWorks Solutions Corp., which completed the custom design, supply, and installation of the playground structure; and MarWest Industries, which handled the civil site works.
In addition to the landscape award, Castlegar was also awarded a Five Blooms – Bronze rating, recognizing excellence in environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, and community engagement.
Castlegar’s McKenna Ross also received an Outstanding Achievement Award as a top volunteer under the age of 30.
"Local groups like Castlegar Communities in Bloom contribute over 4,000 volunteer hours annually, further enhancing the city's green spaces," said the city in a statement. "The city thanks all the volunteers and staff whose hard work continues to make Castlegar a beautiful and thriving community."
If you are interested in volunteering with the Castlegar Communities in Bloom team, contact Darlene Kalawsky at 250-365-1653.
