City of Castlegar Wins National Award for Sustainable Landscape Design
By City of Castlegar
The City of Castlegar has once again been recognized for its outstanding efforts in community beautification, taking home the Scotts Turf Builder Outstanding Achievement Landscape Award at the 2024 Communities in Bloom National Awards Ceremony held in Charlottetown, PEI. The award celebrates Castlegar’s dedication to sustainable landscape design and its commitment to enhancing public spaces.
The award specifically highlights the recently completed Canada’s tallest castle play structure at Millennium Park & Ponds, a 527-square-meter space featuring sustainable elements throughout. The project was designed with both environmental sustainability and accessibility in mind. Key features include:
- The use of Robinia wood, a renewable, weather-resistant material.
- Incorporating native plants such as Kinnikinnick, Arrowleaf Balsamroot, and Shrubby Penstemon reduces water demand and supports local biodiversity.
- The playground’s safety surfacing uses a base of recycled rubber for durability, minimizing the need for frequent maintenance and replacement.
- Landscaping choices that promote long-term sustainability, including nine new shade trees and recycled plastic benches, contributing to a minimal maintenance approach.
“The castle play structure highlights how sustainable practices can be integrated into innovative design,” says Mayor Maria McFaddin. “We’re proud to receive national recognition for our efforts and to continue fostering environmental stewardship in our parks and public spaces.”
The playground, which replaced an outdated structure, was partially funded through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The project team included Urban Systems Ltd., responsible for the landscape and civil design; ParkWorks Solutions Corp., which completed the custom design, supply, and installation of the playground structure; and MarWest Industries, which handled the civil site works.
This award builds on Castlegar’s long-standing participation in the Communities in Bloom program, which encourages civic pride and community involvement through volunteer efforts and sustainable initiatives.
As part of this year’s ceremony, Castlegar was also awarded a 5 Blooms—Bronze rating, recognizing excellence in environmental action, heritage conservation, urban forestry, and community engagement. Castlegar’s McKenna Ross also received an Outstanding Achievement Award as a top volunteer under the age of 30.
Local groups like Castlegar Communities in Bloom contribute over 4,000 volunteer hours annually, further enhancing the city’s green spaces. The City thanks all the volunteers and staff whose hard work continues to make Castlegar a beautiful and thriving community.
About Communities in Bloom
Communities in Bloom is a volunteer, partnership-driven, charitable organization that inspires communities to enhance their quality of life and the environment through people and plants, fostering community pride. They strive to ensure a collaborative and inclusive organization where all people feel welcome, respected, and valued. You can follow along with our local Communities in Bloom Committee on their Facebook page. If you are interested in volunteering with the Castlegar Bloom team, please contact Darlene Kalawsky at 250.365.1653.
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