FERGUS – For decades, children have been playing on the same playground equipment at Victoria Terrace Public School.
But equipment doesn’t last forever, and earlier this month it was condemned by Upper Grand District School Board officials. Components are roped off with caution tape and orange fencing to prevent kids from accessing them.
It’s time for a new playground, and a small group of parents from the elementary school is hoping to raise about $100,000 to make it happen.
Parent council member Jillia Brimblecombe said the playground was initially installed in 1979 or 1980. She noted current Victoria Terrace teacher Kim Bryan remembers playing on the same equipment when she was in Grade 1.
“They’ve done little things at the school to try to update it,” Brimblecombe said, but it’s “still all the original playground from then.”
Before it was condemned, the playground got a lot of use, including outside of school hours, Brimblecombe said, describing it as a “community hub spot.”
“Kids feel safe and comfortable at that school,” Brimblecombe said – sometimes safer than they do at home.
“So a lot of the time on weekends and evenings if you drive by the school it’s packed,” she said.
“It’s their spot that they can go, even without their parents. A lot of families use it within the community … it’s where kids learn to ride their bikes.”
And while there are other parks in Fergus, Brimblecombe noted there aren’t others in that area.
Because the playground was condemned, the school board will cover the cost of removing it, but the replacement cost will fall on the school community.
“The board has been very supportive, especially the local superintendent” Belal Taha, Brimblecombe said.
Parents at Victoria Terrace Public School are looking to raise about $100,000 to replace the old playground equipment at the school. Submitted photo
Students and the parent council held a successful raffle last month and were able to raise $18,500 – a whopping amount compared to the $1,000 or so Brimblecombe said they raised at previous events.
She said officials are hoping to run another raffle and will be able to implement some lessons they learned the first time around, such as printing more tickets.
Brimblecombe said the school’s parent council has been fundraising for the playground for at least 10 years, but it has been challenging, especially as many of the families at Victoria Terrace live in low-income neighbourhoods, so many just don’t have money to donate.
“Each school is responsible for its own playground,” Brimblecombe said, which means “when you have a community that’s not as well off, the kids are going to suffer.”
Parents are hopeful a local business or organization will step up and help pay for the new playground.
They’re also hoping the Township of Centre Wellington might partner with the school board to help fund the playground.
But one way or another, Brimblecombe is determined to make sure children at Victoria Terrace have a new playground as soon as possible.
“When I get something in my mind … it’s going to happen,” she said. “In the next year we are getting a new playground. I will make it happen.”
To contribute to the Victoria Terrace playground, contact parent council president Amanda Shannon at maroc_mandy@yahoo.com.
