For Immediate Release
March 15, 2019
Burnaby MLAs welcome funding for new playgrounds
BURNABY – Local Burnaby MLAs are saying students will soon enjoy new playgrounds at three schools, thanks to $285,000 in provincial funding through the Playground Equipment Program, now in its second year.
Schools receiving funding include:
• Maywood Community School is receiving $105,000 for a new accessible playground
• Second Street Community School is receiving $90,000 for a new standard playground
• Sperling Elementary is receiving $90,000 for a new standard playground
Funding for the new playgrounds is a part of the Playground Equipment Program announced last May by Premier John Horgan and Minister of Education Rob Fleming. The program provides up to $5 million each year to school districts. This year, 20 schools are receiving $90,000 for a standard playground, and 30 schools are receiving $105,000 for a universally-accessible playground.
In the past, schools’ Parent Advisory Councils would have to fundraise large sums of money for new and replacement playground equipment, and schools without that capability are left without playgrounds.
The New Democrat government has delivered historic levels of funding to B.C. schools, including the biggest operating and capital budgets in B.C. history, an extra $1-billion in classroom funding over 2016/17, and $2.7-billion over three years to build, expand, and seismically upgrade K-12 schools.
Quotes
Janet Routledge, MLA for Burnaby North
“Playgrounds are important for children’s development. They encourage outdoor physical activity, help students learn how to share, and be creative. Investing in new playgrounds can help students learn more effectively in the classroom.”
Anne Kang, MLA for Burnaby-Deer Lake
“Every student deserves a playground that works for them. I’m so glad that Maywood Elementary will be installing a universally accessible playground. Play and outdoor activity can go a long way in a child’s development and learning.”
Katrina Chen, MLA for Burnaby-Lougheed
“The responsibility of funding new playgrounds shouldn’t fall to the parents. This funding will bring joy to the students, ensure they have safe, adequate playgrounds, and allow parents to focus more of their energy on their child’s success.”
Raj Chouhan, MLA for Burnaby Edmonds
“Today’s funding announcement will come as a relief to parents who were previously burdened with fundraising for playgrounds. Parents deserve the peace of mind of sending their children to a school that has a safe, modern playground.”
Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2019EDUC0023-000409
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