Students at École Qayqayt Elementary School will soon have a brand new playground thanks to provincial funding announced last week.
The school is one of 51 schools across the province benefiting from a new program established by the NDP government in this year’s budget to fund school playgrounds. Every year, school districts will be able to take advantage of a $5-million-a-year playground equipment program to help pay for playgrounds.
Districts applied for the funding in April 2018, and the money was doled out based on greatest need, according to a press release from the province.
Qayqayt is one of 25 schools in B.C. receiving $105,000 to build a brand new accessible playground.
When the elementary school opened in 2014, it, like most schools across the province had no playground. Typically, playgrounds are purchased using funds raised by parent advisory councils and donations from the community.
The new playground will be constructed as an addition to the school’s existing playground.
The plan is to have the playground ready for the fall. Operations and maintenance staff are currently working with the school to “iron out the details,” according to the school district.
“The addition will help provide all of our students at École Qayqayt with access to a safe, inclusive, fun and creative place to play and grow,” notes a statement from the district.
