Your on-line vote could result in a new accessible playground for West Sechelt.
The West Sechelt Elementary School Playground Enhancement Committee (WSESPEC) has entered their vision plan for an inclusive playground to the Aviva Community Fund. If their vision plan gets the most votes at www.avivacommunityfund.org they could be breaking ground on a new accessible playground early next year.
The WSESPEC has been fundraising to make the accessible playground a reality at the school since 2010, but so far only $5,000 has been raised for phase one, which is estimated to cost $53,000.
Phase one includes upgrading the existing playground onsite to include a new sensory play centre, stand-up seesaw, spinner and playhouse structure on top of a foundation of recycled rubber tires under a no-maintenance synthetic grass cover.
Phase one would be geared towards children aged two to six and would accommodate children with disabilities who live in or around the West Sechelt area.
WSESPEC chair Allyson Fawcus said currently there are no truly inclusive playgrounds in Sechelt.
"One family at our school has to travel 30 minutes to find a playground their child can navigate," Fawcus said.
It was the needs of students at West Sechelt Elementary School that first got the parents thinking about a playground upgrade. When parents saw some students left out of play because they couldn't manoeuvre around the current playground equipment, which sits on a gravel foundation, they knew something had to be done.
"Should every child have the opportunity to play with their friends on the playground? Should every community have an inclusive, public space to gather? These are questions we answer with a resounding yes," Fawcus said in her group's submission to the Aviva Community Fund.
While the group identified the need, finding funding for phase one has been difficult. However, if the group wins the Aviva Community Fund award, they will be able to complete phase one, two and three of their accessible playground project.
Phase two entails building an accessible playground for ages seven to 10, and phase three would see an accessible playground for ages 11 to 13. The total estimated cost for all three phases is $150,000.
Fawcus hopes people will go on-line and vote to make the WSESPEC dream a reality.
"With the government cutting all funding for these upgrades, it is up to each community to find the money to do it themselves. With this grant, we can have these necessary upgrades done sooner and with less drain on individual pockets," Fawcus said.
You can vote for the WSESPEC plan identified as idea number 11645 at www.avivacommunityfund.org. Voting will continue until Dec. 16 with judges picking winners from the semi-finalists to be announced Jan. 25, 2012.
This year the Aviva Community fund will provide $1 million to put ideas for positive change from around the country into action.
