Cash for play structures included in budget

The provincial budget includes a present for children.

Coun. Brian Mayes said he was thrilled to discover the document, released Tuesday, includes money for play structures at new schools.

The province has created a playground fund for new schools and set aside $3 million for the construction of new structures at existing schools.

“I was told emphatically the day before the budget by a staffer it wasn’t in there … I was then told the night before, ‘well, you might be pleasantly surprised’ … so very pleased with that,” Mayes said.

Play structures on school grounds are typically paid for by provincial funding and fundraising by volunteer parent groups.

Mayes (St. Vital) thought the current model was inequitable because divisions in wealthier areas fare better at fundraising. He struck a task force to study the issue last year.

A report suggested the province should fund play structures at new schools by allocating one per cent of the construction cost, along with contributions from the city and school divisions.

Mayes’s report found that money raised by some parent groups was essentially erased by inflationary costs for project material.

Parent groups such as one in North Kildonan were struggling to fundraise $200,000 to replace the structure at Ecole Springfield Heights School. The structure was removed in October after the province deemed it unsafe.

In February, the province announced it would give Springfield Heights $100,000 toward its new playground.

Saskatchewan has a similar program; the government budgets $3.75 million per year for repairs, with individual grants up to $50,000.

Mayes would like to see the province’s budget for playgrounds retroactively cover new schools, including the recently opened K-8 French-immersion school in Sage Creek, which is in his ward. He says he wants to work with the area MLA and school division to explore funding for it.

Nicole.buffie@freepress.mb.ca