Playground funding process questioned as province invites pilot project applications

A group that advocates for students and school funding is questioning how the province decides which playgrounds to fund.

"I don't know how we are deciding which kids get playgrounds and which kids don't," Barbara Silva of Support our Students Alberta told The Homestretch on Thursday.

"We are hearing that schools around the province are having to fundraise for playgrounds that have had safety audits, that are no longer safe," Silva said."Parents don't begrudge one school for getting money from the government, but they would like a little respite from the fundraising they have been doing over the years."

The province recently announced $200,000 in playground funding for a southeast Calgary school, while parents at other schools have been doing their own fundraising and in some cases waiting for years for government help, she said.

$20M program for new schools, new pilot for older ones

Alberta's education minister says they are doing what they can to keep up.

"Last year, we announced a $20 million program to build playgrounds for new schools," David Eggen said in an emailed statement.

"I have informed school boards that we are investing in a pilot program that will target investments to communities with aging playground infrastructure in the communities that need them most."

Not all with quality, Silva says

Schools will have a chance to apply for the pilot program, he said.

While that total funding is good, Silva said, not all schools will qualify.

"There are many schools that don't fall under that program," Silva said. "While it is generous, it lacks the universality we need in public education to ensure that all students have a safe place to play. It's part of their physical literacy."

Silva is hoping voters consider this come election time and that it might start a broader conversation on school funding models.

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