BC government announces funding to build 50 new playgrounds

The newly constructed playground at David Lam Park constructed for Crosstown Elementary School students. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)

A total of $5 million is being spent by the provincial government to build new school playgrounds in 34 school districts across BC.

The funding will allow for all of the new playgrounds to be built in time for the new school year starting in Fall 2019, with each playground costing about $100,000 each.

Within Metro Vancouver, this includes:

$315,000 for Vancouver School District: John Norquay Elementary, University Hill Elementary, and Waverley Elementary
$285,000 for Burnaby School District: Maywood Community, Second Street Community, and Sperling Elementary
$180,000 for Richmond School District: Grauer Elementary and Kidd Elementary
$180,000 for Langley School District: Glenwood Elementary and Nicomekl Elementary
$285,000 for Surrey School District: Goldstone Park Elementary, Strawberry Hill Elementary, and Westerman Elementary
$105,000 for Delta School District: McCloskey Elementary
$3115,000 for Coquitlam School District: Central Elementary, Eagle Mountain Middle, and Pleasantside Elementary
$105,000 for North Vancouver School District: Larson Elementary

According to the provincial government, playgrounds are important for the well-being of a child’s development and learning, as these outdoor play areas encourage outdoor physical activity, help students learn how to share, overcome challenges, and help them focus and learn more effectively in the classroom.

Priority is given to schools where there is no playground, then to schools where the existing playground is ageing.

This follows the provincial government’s initial investment last year of allocating $5 million for the first 51 playgrounds under BC’s Playground Equipment Program. All of these initial playgrounds have been completed.

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