The children’s playground in Bee Canyon Park will be closed and remain fenced off from March 10 until April 10, 2014 while undergoing extensive renovation and improvements courtesy of the Patriot Oil Community Benefit Trust Fund administered by the North Valley Coalition.

Among the improvements will be the removal of outdated play equipment (rocking bulldozer and whale) which will be replaced by a new home/rescue climbing unit, the installation of new curbing, rubberized matting and a new smaller sand box to replace most of the existing sand which created a daily maintenance nightmare sifting for potentially harmful objects that might injure the children. The installation of new shade structures to protect the existing climbing structure and slides (also a part of the project) will occur about 1 month after the park reopens and before the hot weather.

The Recreation & Parks Department will also be adding additional benches which are more strategically located, and adding pads for existing benches that currently don’t have them.

While not a part of this project Patriot Oil has also funded the replacement of the existing drinking water fountain located at the bridge leading into the playground with a combination water fountain/pet watering station after observing residents permitting their animals to drink directly from the faucet mouthpiece. This replacement should be completed in the next month or so.

Wayde Hunter,
President NVC/Patriot Oil Community Benefit Trust Fund