Supporting the importance of play

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 05/05/2021 (755 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As I approach the 10th anniversary of my election as city councillor, there is a natural urge to list out the various projects that have been completed.  

I was pleasantly surprised to count up almost 20 playground improvements in the ward over those years. These improvements have variously benefitted area schools, community centres (such as the new accessible structure at Norberry-Glenlee, opened last fall) and parks.  

In 2021 work is planned on a variety of projects, ranging from a replacement of the swing set at St. Vital Park, to play structure safety upgrades at Pulberry (Cabot) Park.  

In addition to the Norberry-Glenlee project, upgrades in 2020 included a new bench addition at Ecole Guyot, and a new structure in the city park outside of Dr. D.W. Penner School. Unfortunately, funding is sometimes delayed (for example, modernizing the play structure at Dean Finlay Park has been pushed back to 2023).

The plan for 2022 features a major upgrade to the structure at Victor Wyatt School (a city play structure on school property). In many cases upgrades to structures have been the result of work with other levels of government – such as provincial (former MLA Theresa Oswald at Brentford Park, and current MLA Rochelle Squires at Minnetonka), or federal (former MP Shelly Glover at Windsor School and current MP Dan Vandal at Norberry).  

The Louis Riel School Division does not fund play structures for individual schools, but the trustees have supported many projects, such as H.S. Paul School in 2019. Community groups such as the parents at Christ the King School and the residents at Southglen Mobile Home Community have put their own funds into some of the projects. At Forsythe Park, Qualico worked closely with the city to get a new structure build at the south end of Forsythe Park.

The need for outdoor exercise remains vital, especially during the COVID-19 period.  My sons are now too old to appreciate new play structures, but I still smile when I am running or driving and see kids playing in a St. Vital playground which has been upgraded. 

Brian Mayes
St. Vital ward report

Brian Mayes is the city councillor for St. Vital.

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