Whitehorse Daily Star

LePage Park to undergo major resurfacing work

The Yukon Historical & Museums Association (YHMA) will begin a significant resurfacing project for LePage Park in downtown Whitehorse, next month.

By Whitehorse Star on July 15, 2019

The Yukon Historical & Museums Association (YHMA) will begin a significant resurfacing project for LePage Park in downtown Whitehorse, next month.

The current wooden deck, concrete paver circle and grassy area around the stage will be replaced with recycled rubber surfacing. That offers a more comfortable surface for users and better safety and durability, the YHMA said today.

Some funding is coming from Lotteries Yukon. The YHMA is seeking donations and sponsorships toward remaining costs not covered by funding.

“LePage Park is a hub for arts and culture performances and events,’ said Lianne Maitland, the YHMA’s executive director.

“We are so pleased to have received this funding and to be able to undertake this project to update the park so it is attractive, safe, and user-friendly.

“The rubber surfacing really ticks all the boxes – it’s comfortable to walk on, helps prevent breakage from dropping, can easily be kept clear of debris, and is eco-friendly and long-lasting as well.

“We are even able to incorporate the circular shape of the current tiling, so the aesthetic relationship between the stage and surfacing will be retained,” Maitland added.

The YHMA is responsible for the park’s maintenance through a 99-year lease with the City of Whitehorse, which also includes the three designated historic buildings surrounding the park.

The park last underwent renovations in the early 2000s, at which time the existing surfacing, as well as the seating area and stage were installed.

The planned surfacing upgrade will mark phase one of a longer-term renovation plan that will eventually see the replacement of all the current surfacing, as well as work on the stage, seating area, and landscaping.

Donations can be made online through Canada Helps at https://tinyurl.com/y668k3rj or in person at the YHMA office, 3126 Third Ave., Whitehorse.

Donors will receive a charitable tax receipt, and those giving $1,000 or more will be recognized on a thank you sign to be erected in the park.

Any funds raised beyond the current $15,000 goal will be used for future park renovations and maintenance.

Comments (3)

Up 1 Down 0

Clean it up on Jul 21, 2019 at 7:46 am

Rubber surfacing, great! Will that stop the breaking of booze bottles everywhere?

Up 6 Down 0

tnk on Jul 19, 2019 at 3:31 pm

I swear this town must pick the highest prices they can find when building or repairing anything. The park is cute but small and the Yukon lottery is donating $91,581.00 and they still need another $15,000 on top of that you could build a new park for under 100,000, and frankly the current brick work doesn't really look to damaged don't see why they have to rip it all out. I think they could just power wash and seal it if they wanted to save some cost and brighten the place up. And I don't see how, if they just bought new wood decking could cost more than like $5000 to cover the area. Also can't believe Lottery Yukon is donating over $500,000 to Sima to buy a new grooming machine. Nice there is a ski hill but that place is kind of a money pit. In 2018 Yukon Lottery donated to the Whitehorse Cross Country Ski Club for a Snow Machine and Groomer for a cost of $22,191 meaning the one for Sima is costing $478.000 more than that one .

Up 21 Down 1

DT resident on Jul 15, 2019 at 3:50 pm

How about some police patrols of that park?
They found some needles there the other day and there are constantly people day drinking ( I assume at night also) in that park. It's gross.

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