A park in Langford has gotten a facelift along with a new name, and it officially reopened today.
Previously known as Cressida Park, the park has undergone renovations and now boasts new features and has been renamed as Chief Al LeQuesne Park in honor of the former Langford Fire Chief.
Chief Al LeQuesne, who served the community for over four decades, joined the Langford Volunteer Fire Department in 1952 and was named Fire Chief in 1967, a position he held for 33 years until his retirement in 1996.
During his tenure, he was instrumental in several initiatives that made Langford safer, including acquiring the first set of hydraulic tools (Jaws of Life), establishing a third fire hall near Goldstream Park, and bringing the 911 system to the community.
The renovated Chief Al LeQuesne Park, originally built in 1981, is located in the Goldstream Meadows neighbourhood was designed in-house by the City’s Parks and Landscape Design Technologist.
The renovation was funded through Park Improvement DCCs and the Disability and Access Improvements Capital Budget.
Before the construction began, the City of Langford staff consulted with nearby residents and the Willway Elementary School PAC to collect feedback on key features they would like incorporated into the new park design.
The renovated park includes new playground equipment, a walking path, picnic tables, benches, and newly planted trees and shrubs.
The playground includes equipment for the two to five-year-old age range and five to 12-year-old age range, and it features accessible and inclusive elements. The blue and green colour palette was chosen to complement and enhance the park’s natural surroundings, according to the City of Langford.
The playground equipment includes:
- A 20-metre cable zipline
- A 12-ft Super Netplex, which is the only 12-ft tower with accessible centre spiral belting. The belt climber allows those who use wheelchairs and have upper body strength to transfer themselves onto the belt, allowing them to make their way up to the upper levels to play with their peers
- A swing that allows several children and adults of various mobilities to swing together. It also set at a transfer height for easy transfer from a wheelchair so that all can swing together.
- A Sway Fun Glider, which is the first wheelchair-accessible glider that meets all safety standards. It features a play table with cup holders and wheelchair handholds and room for two wheelchairs plus two large benches for other passengers. A ramp adds greater accessibility for users of all ages and mobilities
- A loft area, which includes 20 interactive activities, such as a Mailbox Talk Tube, Alphabet Panel, Belt Climber, Flower/Leaf Spinners and more, all of which address developmentally appropriate skills
Dave LeQuesne, the son of Chief Al LeQuesne, expressed his appreciation for the renaming of the park and said that the park reflects the values of his father, who was all about family, children, and Langford.
“We would like to thank the City of Langford. Dad’s Park has a great deal of meaning about a man who gave 44 years to the community of Langford,” said Dave LeQuesne.
“Our dad, husband, grandparent, and friend was all about family, children, and Langford. Dad would always take time out to show a child the fire truck or fire hall. He always made sure children with disabilities were never left out.”
The Chief Al LeQuesne Park is located at 2980 Humpback Road and is easily accessible via the Trans Canada Trail, which runs alongside the park, and limited parking is also available.
