Official Opening Set for Halifax Waterfront Playground

The new playground on the Halifax waterfront will officially open Saturday, May 26, from 11 a.m. to noon.

The opening will include a special playground toast by Duncan (Dusty) Miller, first lord of the admiralty's playgrounds, placing items in a time capsule, and activities for children, next to Maritime Museum of the Atlantic, 1675 Lower Water St.

Project partners Waterfront Development Corporation, Halifax Regional Municipality and Maritime Museum of the Atlantic worked closely with a team of Nova Scotia designers and boat builders to create a custom play area based on a 2010 children's consultation session.

"The waterfront playground is a favourite spot for generations of families and we know this new one will carry on that legacy," said Colin MacLean, president and CEO, Waterfront Development Corporation.

The new playground opened for play last fall and features a bright orange submarine and octopus wall.

The team also included provincial companies McGowan Marine Design, Project Works Artistry, Outside! Planning and Design Studio and support from Ottawa based Grace-Kells Playground Safety Consultants.

The submarine was built in Gold River by boat builder Bruce Thomson and his team at Tern Boatworks, using the same strip-planking method for the Bluenose II restoration project.

The structure includes a slide, periscope, portholes, climbing feature and interactive elements. The first level is also wheelchair accessible.

The former play boat area, called Halcyon, was enjoyed by children for more than 25 years.