Plans for accessible washroom at Liverpool’s play park to be moved up a year

Region of Queens councillors want planning for an accessible washroom at the inclusive play park in Liverpool to begin this year. (Rick Conrad)

Region of Queens councillors want to move up plans for an accessible washroom at Liverpool’s universally designed inclusive play park.

The region set aside about $400,000 for the facilities in the 2025/26 capital improvement plan. But District 1 Coun. Kevin Muise urged councillors on Tuesday to move it up a year. Otherwise, he said he’s worried it won’t get built at all.

The $600,000 play park was opened next to Queens Place Emera Centre in October 2023. It was made possible by a combination of community fundraising and municipal and provincial funding.

The region rented an accessible portable toilet for the site last year. 

Muise said he’d prefer planning for the accessible washroom facilities to begin sooner than later, especially with the $21.5-million Mount Pleasant water and sewer extension work due to begin this year.

“I’m not saying that it’s going to be built this summer. I know in reality it’s not going to happen, but if we don’t start doing some planning, … it’s not going to be built next summer either. … Put it on the budget for this year. But if we leave it till next year, we’re going to be having the same argument again. It’s not going to be there for next summer.”

Mayor Darlene Norman said she was worried about overwhelming the region’s already thinly stretched public works staff. 

Councillors decided to add it to the 2024/25 capital plan and get as much planning work done on it this year as possible.