Council eyes upgrades to St. Pauls playground, explores new public works complex after building assessment

By Galen Simmons

Following the adoption of its updated asset management plan, Perth South council has turned its attention to the condition of several aging municipal facilities, identifying the St. Pauls playground and two public works buildings as priorities for future investment.

Council discussed the township’s 2026 building condition assessment at its July 7 meeting, focusing on facilities rated in poor or very poor condition and directing staff to begin planning for long-term improvements.

The most immediate discussion centred on the St. Pauls playground, which the assessment rated in very poor condition. While the report attributes much of that rating to the age of the playground equipment and recommends replacing both the equipment and protective surfacing, it also suggests verifying the actual condition of the equipment before proceeding with replacement.

The assessment estimates replacing the playground equipment and surfacing would cost approximately $120,000. It also notes the existing chain-link fence and concrete bench are currently in fair condition but should be addressed in the short to medium term for health and safety reasons.

Earlier in the meeting, council heard from the Optimist Club of Downie, which offered to contribute up to $50,000 toward replacing the playground equipment and indicated it would assist with additional fundraising if needed.

“In honour of our 50th anniversary, we’ve been looking for a major community project to complete,” Downie Optimist Club president Manny Puetz said. “In researching what we could do, we came across a report on building condition assessment, and one item stood out to us, and that was the rating on the playground equipment and at the pavilion.

“Being a club of 68 members that is interested in the youth of our community and making things accessible and inclusive to all, we thought updating and upgrading this equipment would be a great project.”

Council members discussed pursuing grant opportunities to help offset the remaining costs, particularly programs supporting accessible and inclusive playgrounds. The discussion also expanded beyond simply replacing the existing equipment to the possibility of creating a larger park improvement project for the St. Pauls property that could better serve families for years to come.

The building condition assessment had specifically recommended the township investigate alternate playground surfacing materials and work with the Optimist Club of Downie on any rehabilitation or replacement project.

Council also focused on two public works facilities identified as being in poor condition: the public works building in St. Pauls and the public works sand and salt storage Quonset in Rannoch.

Rather than investing heavily in aging facilities at separate locations, council supported the idea of planning for a new, centrally located public works complex that would combine storage, equipment and shop functions into a single site.

The assessment recommends continuing necessary maintenance on both existing public works buildings in the short term while budgeting for a combined facility to replace them.

Council directed staff to return with a report identifying three potential properties capable of accommodating a new public works complex. In addition to housing public works operations, council discussed selecting a site large enough to accommodate future expansion, including the potential addition of a fire hall and municipal offices should those needs arise.

The building condition assessment found the Rannoch Quonset should ultimately be replaced as part of a new centralized public works complex, while ongoing maintenance should continue at both existing public works buildings until a long-term solution is implemented.

“I think we need to put some urgency behind this,” Coun. Jim Van Nes said. “If I had my choice, I’d be saying to staff we’re going to build something in four years. Tell us where we’re going to build. I don’t want to be spending half a million dollars on the shops here and another three-quarters of a million down in Rannoch on that salt shed … and then four or five years later say, ‘Oh, now we’re going to build.’ I think we can Mickey Mouse some of these buildings along as long as we have a stated plan by 2029, 2030, whatever, but I would like to give that direction to staff to start that process.”

“My personal opinion is I would like to see shovels in the ground in 2028. The urgency is there. Certainly, the sand and salt storage shed in Rannoch is questionable,” said deputy mayor Bob Wilhelm, referring to a hole in the shed’s back wall – something director of public works Ken Bettles said he could have patched in the short term.

The assessment reviewed municipal buildings and facilities across Perth South, identifying maintenance requirements, repair priorities and replacement timelines intended to help council plan future capital investments while extending the useful life of township assets.

While most of Perth South’s other solely owned buildings were rated as being in fair or good condition, the township does share several buildings with South Huron on the Kirkton-Woodham Community Centre property that have been rated as being in poor or very poor condition. Township CAO Will Jaques said staff have already begun discussions with South Huron about how to replace or upgrade those buildings.

Council will consider the staff reports and funding opportunities as work continues on both the St. Pauls playground improvements and the planning of a future centralized public works complex.