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'Playboxes' arriving in New Westminster this weekend

There’ll soon be some new toys to play with at École Qayqayt Elementary School.
playboxes
École Qayqayt Elementary School is one of four locations across the city getting a Live 5-2-1-0 playbox filled with outdoor toys and equipment free to use by kids in the city.

There’ll soon be some new toys to play with at École Qayqayt Elementary School.

The school is one of four locations around the city that is getting a Live 5-2-1-0 playbox, part of a partnership between the City of New Westminster, the New Westminster school district, Fraser Health, Royal Columbian Hospital Foundation and SCOPE B.C., according to a press release from the city.

SCOPE B.C. is an initiative out of B.C. Children’s Hospital aimed at promoting healthy living among children and features Live 5-2-1-0, a set of daily guidelines for kids. The guidelines include: five or more vegetables and fruits every day; keep screen time to no more than two hours a day; play actively at least one hour each day; and choose healthy, zero sugary drinks, according to the release.

Inside the boxes will be basketballs, soccer balls, flying discs, jump ropes, hula hoops and other outdoor equipment. The boxes will be ready for community use at Grimston Park, Hume Park, Moody Park and Qayqayt on Saturday, May 19.

“I’m excited to see this program expanding in New Westminster and to watch our community become more active through play,” Mayor Jonathan Cote said in the release. “I believe this initiative is important in not only increasing physical activity, but also increasing community belonging.”

The community is welcome to add to the boxes as well. If you’ve got any good condition balls, sand toys and other equipment, just drop it off. The boxes are secured with a combination lock; you can get the code at www.newwestcity.ca/healthy-community.