The village of Abbey recently moved one step closer to securing funding for a playground structure.

The Saskatchewan government announced on September 16 that the playground project along with another 125 infrastructure projects had been approved and sent off to Ottawa for federal approval under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).

Abbey's Economic Development Officer Jenn Biensch said the village's current play structure was built in the 1990s and a new one would really spruce things up.

"It's kind of deteriorating and ageing," she said. "It would be really nice to replace it and have something a little more safe for the kids to use and something more modern. It would be a great addition to our community centre so we're hopeful that we're approved for the grant."

If the federal government approves the project, they'd cover about 40 per cent ($40,000) of the project, with the province paying 33 percent (just over $33,000), leaving Abbey the remaining bill of around $26,700.

"It wouldn't be the village paying for that," she said. "It would be coming from fundraising from the Abbey Business & Community Centre organization."

According to Biensch part of the existing play structure would be salvageable and remain if a new structure was to be built.

"We got a quote done and a blueprint made up of what it could be," she said. "Obviously we would have to wait and see if we get funding and how much we would get before finalizing any specific plans on that."

The village of roughly 130 residents could see a larger than first expected impact if the playground is approved for funding and built.

"It would be fantastic for our town to have a new playground and attract young families and maybe even generate a little tourism to our town," she said. "People driving by on the way to the sandhills would maybe stop and utilize our community centre. It would be really great for the young people and young families of this town."

The federal government is expected to announce their decision on this project and many more in the coming weeks and months ahead.