Province gives innovative program a financial boost
SAINT JOHN - With more than 270 children attending M. Gerald Teed School, time on swings and other limited playground equipment has been restricted to one lunch break and one recess each week.
So a group of Millidgeville parents who believe that children deserve more playground time are bringing nature back to the school yard in a plan that will encourage everyone to participate, regardless of ability.
Parents Encouraging Active Kids (PEAK) are well on their way to building a fitness trail with raised berms, cedar balance beams and natural cedar stepping rounds. Stairs will be built into the slope that will be established for circuit activity, balance beams will be erected and a 100-metre dash set out.
More than 30 mature evergreen trees will be planted and bleachers installed for an outdoor classroom where teachers will feel comfortable taking children for reading time, even math classes, on warm and sunny days. In winter, there may be an ice rink for skating.
The M. Gerald Teed School community has raised nearly $25,000 for the play space, while the province has donated $25,000 through the Regional Development Corporation's family and community youth assistance program. Opposition MLA Trevor Holder of Saint John Portland presented the cheque to the group on Wednesday.
"(Liberal MLA) Roly MacIntyre championed the application," said Holder. "He was a big help."
The Greater Saint John Community Foundation has pitched in $3,000, which means that the group has nearly reached its $60,000 goal with two applications for additional cash pending. PEAK has requested $10,000 from the city's land for public purposes trust fund.
"The $50,000 gives us a complete installation, a natural, green-plan fitness circuit that's around existing equipment but with appropriate grading, wheelchair accessibility and natural green space enhancement," says PEAK co-chair Cathy Connolly.
"If there's an opportunity to add a couple of sit-up benches or chin-up bars that will just help round it out a little more for us."
PEAK has been researching the play space for two years and, as a result, has radically altered its approach.
"It is less about equipment as it is developing green-space opportunities, so they will play hide-and-seek in the trees," she said.
"It's more co-operative play, more imaginative play."
Right now, the game is centred around industrial dumpsters in the school yard.
PEAK member Frances Roderick studied the project and discovered that research supports the idea that, often, children can learn better - especially certain types of children - in an outdoor environment.
"They get different stimulus, different input," she said.
"Often teachers feel uncomfortable bringing them out into an uncontrolled place. By setting up a more structured area, they feel comfortable coming out and teaching a lesson outside.
"Sometimes the traditional play structures and the typical type of asphalt environment don't really appeal to children who aren't as fit, so we were looking at some more natural options that might be more appealing."
The research has also shown that, with children who are at risk of low activity or who are inactive, a green playground actually motivates them to become more active.
"Kids who wouldn't necessarily be hanging off the monkey bars need to play, too," says PEAK member Nancy Fisher.
The playground shuts down during winter, adds PEAK co-chair Karen Keating-Small, so with the green space area, children will always have the option to play outside.
The group hopes a grand opening of the new play area will take place in late fall.
More The City
Search Articles
More CE Network Sites & Partners:
