The Province is providing $250,000 for school playgrounds and two Okotoks schools will be the first to benefit, but a local Catholic school missed the cut.
The announcement came June 2 that schools announced between 2014 and 2018 can apply for up to $250,000 in playground funding.
A new public K-9 school across from Holy Trinity Academy and the new École Beausoleil Francophone school will be built with a provincially-funded playground. They are two of 54 schools receiving the new funding.
Previously, some provincial grants were available and the remainder of playground construction costs had to be fundraised.
Monica Kohlhammer, Foothills School Division director of planning, said they’ve included some preliminary playground designs with the school design but have not come up with a cost yet.
“We are quite hopeful it will cover most of the expenses,” she said of the funding.
If the playground cost exceeds the quarter million dollar mark, fundraising will still be necessary, she said.
As a result of the new Provincial funding the school division could consider putting in equipment they otherwise couldn’t, she said, and will be researching new playground builds in surrounding areas.
“We should be striving for an environment that is playful, promotes physical activity and are fun and create friendships,” Kohlhammer said. “It is inspirational to think about what the opportunities are.”
The newest Catholic School in the area missed out on the funding by nine months.
At St. Francis of Assisi Academy students have a small playground moved from Good Shepherd School, but may go another year without a proper playground.
The De Winton area school was announced in April 2013 and therefore doesn’t fall within the Province’s new funding parameters.
“I’m very disappointed,” said Christ the Redeemer Catholic Schools stewardship liason Terri Dauter.
She called the Province to see if there was any way to appeal, but was told there isn’t.
A group of parents have fundraised $25,112 towards the playground and the school has raised another $39,430. The school division has applied for a $125,000 from the Province’s Community Facility Enhancement Program, but requires matching funds to get the grant.
A $308,000 multi-age, accessible playground is planned for the school.
In the meantime, they have a small, aging playground only suitable for Kindergarten students, Dauter said.
She said the playground was moved from Good Shepherd to Holy Trinity Academy while the Kindergarten students attended school there. It followed students to St. Francis of Assisi when the school opened in September 2016.
Dauter said the older kids need an age-appropriate playground and they would also like to build a paved sports court for the junior high students.
She said an accessible playground is almost double the cost of a regular playground, but added it is needed.
“It’s close to Heritage Heights School and the Scott Seaman Sports Rink and there is no other accessible playgrounds in the MD,” she said. “Its the perfect place.”
It will require aggressive fundraising and community support to come up with the money needed, she said.
Tannis Dorscht is one of eight parents who spent two years fundraising $163,522 for a playground at Westmount School said the announcement is great for kids and parents.
Fundraising for a playground is a big project and often results in students going without for a few years,” she said.
“It takes a lot of time and effort,” she said.
