What's Happening in Leduc, AB…

Children from across Leduc will now have a chance to enjoy spending time playing in a new playground that used to be of great interest to palaeontologists.

The Meadowvale Dinosaur Playground was recently declared open to the public. It had originally been slated for use as a residential development, but while excavating the site, work crews came across the fossilized skeleton of a hadrosaur. Once the discovery was made, Qualico Communities, which was the firm that was working in the area, called a halt to the construction and a team of palaeontologists were called in to get a closer look. They found the bones and also impressions of the reptile's skin in the surrounding soil.

The scientists examined the fossil and the area surrounding it. They then took great care in removing the artefacts, and construction was allowed to resume.

According to Brad Armstrong, who is the firm’s vice president of community development, it was felt that they should do something special to mark the location of the find. They decided that a dinosaur themed playground would be an ideal choice. A firm that provides postcard printing services will be able to provide cards that can be mailed out to everyone in the community to let the know about the new park and what makes it special.

The new facility has equipment such as slides and climbing apparatus, and there is even a special sandbox where the kids can try their hand at uncovering “dinosaur bones” for themselves.