MLAs Singh and Sims welcome new playgrounds for Surrey schools

Posted in:

SURREY – Surrey-Green Timbers MLA Rachna Singh and Surrey-Panorama MLA Jinny Sims welcome three new playgrounds for students in Surrey, thanks to $285,000 in provincial funding announced by the Minister of Education today.

“Parents should not have to take on the work of fundraising just to ensure their kids have a safe place to play when they’re at school,” said MLA Singh. “Supporting these projects is just one way our government demonstrates our commitment to putting kids and families first.”

“Our government recognizes that the learning environment in our schools doesn’t end at the classroom. Playgrounds and all types of different learning spaces are important to the development of our future leaders,” said MLA Sims. “As a teacher, It is great to see our government investing in new playgrounds for kids in Surrey.”

Surrey schools receiving funding include:

  • Goldstone Park Elementary school, receiving $90,000 for a standard playground
  • Strawberry Hill Elementary, receiving $90,000 for a standard playground
  • Westerman Elementary school, receiving $105,000 for a new accessible playground

Funding for the new playground comes the new Playground Equipment Program announced last May by Premier John Horgan and Minister of Education Rob Fleming. The program provides up to $5 million each year to school districts to purchase new or replacement playgrounds. This year, the New Democrat government is funding 50 new playgrounds in 34 school districts around B.C. – including 30 universally accessible playgrounds.

In the past, schools’ Parent Advisory Councils would have to fundraise large sums of money for new and replacement playground equipment, and schools without that capability are left without playgrounds. The new fund ensures that kids don’t have to suffer for years with inadequate or unsafe playground equipment, and that parents can focus their energy on their children’s success.

Playgrounds are important for children’s development and learning. They encourage outdoor physical activity and help students learn how to share, work together, overcome challenges and be creative. Outdoor play can help students focus and learn more effectively in the classroom.

The New Democrat government has delivered historic levels of funding to B.C. schools, including the biggest operating and capital budgets in B.C. history, an extra $1-billion in classroom funding over 2016/17, and $2.7-billion over three years to build, expand, and seismically upgrade K-12 schools.

Learn More: http://news.gov.bc.ca/19181