Flood washes out playground at Burlington park

A section of a Burlington park remains closed due to ongoing water drainage issues.

The playground at Leighland Park, located just north of Plains Road East near the QEW, needs to undergo repairs as rain and flooding have plagued the park for the past couple of years.

Current work will see crews drain the flooded area which will then lead to repairs to the drainage system which has been damaged because of the excessive water.

The repairs will take place when conditions are suitable for construction but are expected to be completed later this fall.

According to information supplied by the City of Burlington, rain and subsequent flooding have caused the drainage system to fail in the playground area.

“The wood fibre safety surface has become water-logged which means it has lost its effectiveness as a safety feature,” reads a statement by the city. “In an abundance of caution, the playground will remain closed until the drainage system can be repaired and the safety surface can be replaced. We understand the community’s frustration, but safety of playground users is the number one priority.”

Leighland Park has had its share of problems during the past two years.

In 2022 work was first carried out to improve drainage at the site which had proven to be a problem even then. Reconstruction was also started to upgrade a baseball diamond, pathways, tennis court, and a basketball court at the park.

However, it was reported last summer that the upgrades had been delayed due to weather conditions and vandalism at the park where construction equipment was damaged and equipment stolen.