City councillor to call for halt to Mooney's Bay playground

Bowing to pressure from the community,Coun. Riley Brockington plans to move a motion at Wednesday's council meeting to halt all work on the increasingly controversial playground headed for Mooney's Bay, less than two weeks after describing the proposal as "a landmark attraction."

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The motion, which can only be heard if three-quarters of Ottawa citycouncillors vote to waive the rules, calls for all site preparation and construction work at Mooney's Bay to stop immediately.

Brockington also wants his council colleagues to direct the city's general manager of parks and recreation, Dan Chenier, to assess at least three other possible locations for the massive playground and report back to the community and protective servicescommittee by June16.

Finally, the councillor's report calls for all financial details of the deal to be made public.

"My office has received a significant amount of communication from River ward residents, as well as residents from across the city," Brockington told CBC News. "The vast majority, over 90 per cent, are adamantly opposed to this proposal to build a playground at this part of Mooney's Bay park."

The councillor said he has not seen any criteria about why Mooney`s Bay was selected as the site, other than the fact that the proponent wants the site to be by the water.

In January, Sinking Ship Entertainment approached the city to build Canada's largest playground at Mooney's Bay for itsGiverTV program that airs on TVO.Using children and adult volunteers, the show has built more than 40 playgrounds. Ottawa's which the company estimates will beworth $2 millionwouldbe a salute to Canada and a 2017 legacy project.

City to contribute $1M for playground

In return, Sinking Ship wanted $1 million in public money, as well as complete secrecy while conductingnegotiations.

Brockington acknowledges that cancellingor even changing the deal with Sinking Ship could cost the city money, as the city signed the deal on May 11.

However, the city did not announce the project until May 13, through an emailed press release in which Brockingtonlauded the playground.

"The scope of this project promises to create a destination in River Ward," said a statement attributed to Brockington. "As a landmark attraction within thecity, theplaygroundwillmake this beloved park an even more vibrant community hub."

Brockingtonsaid he was not involved in the negotiations for the playground, and although he knew about the plan from city staff, he was not allowed to speak about it publicly.