On June 1, the Springdale Park Road recreational area will return to private hands and the existing playground equipment will be torn down.

Fifteen years ago, the owner agreed to lease the property to the town at a cost of $1 per year. The local community then came together to provide swings, a climber and other playground equipment for the park.

The lease expires next month, and the original landowner has passed on.

In a letter to the town, the executor of the estate said the lease will not be extended, and the area should be returned to its former state, before it was a playground.

“We had an opportunity to explore several low- and no-cost options for retaining this property for park use with the executor, but none appear to be of interest,” said Ron Walton, Bracebridge municipal engineer. “We have also been asked to remove all of the existing playground equipment.”

Although Walton said removal of the equipment was not part of the original lease, it is the prudent move from a liability point of view.

The park was the primary topic of discussion during a public works committee meeting last spring, when it appeared a new playground may be just over the horizon.

At the time, the committee agreed the existing equipment should be torn down because it does not meet current safety standards. However, committee members pledged support for a new playground, with the details to be worked out along with a new lease.

With no lease in place, the playground will be torn down at the end of May, said Walton.

Despite the loss, the north-end community may still have a chance to secure a park in the future.

An area of town-owned land on Springdale Park Road has been identified as suitable for use as a neighbourhood park, said Walton.

The new park was discussed during a meeting of the town’s parkland and trails committee earlier this month, said Walton. The committee has agreed to perform a site evaluation prior to developing any plans.

Even if the committee decides to move forward with a new park, Walton said it won’t be built anytime in the near future. The area is currently heavily wooded, and would need to be rezoned and cleared before development could begin.

“Any replacement won’t be a quick process. We have to follow procedure,” said Walton. “It really depends on the community and how they feel about it . . . and how high council decides to put it on their priority list.”

Barry Young represents the area on town council, and said he has heard from several residents regarding the park.

“A group had contacted me because they wanted to collect money for new playground equipment and they were hoping the town would match it . . . but it was determined that the owner didn’t want to renew the lease,” he said. “They were disappointed. It seems the park is quite well used and it will be missed.”

Young said he has broached the prospect of a new park with some of the residents and it has met with a favourable response. However, Young said the project will take time, and the people of the area will likely be “parkless” for a while.