The Marie Sharpe Elementary parent advisory council is reaching out to the community to raise the additional $72,000 it needs to rebuild the playground equipment at the school.
Time has become critical as the remaining pieces in our playground are disappearing rapidly, the PAC says in its application for help, which resulted in $2,500 being donated for the cause recently by the Williams Lake and District Credit Union for assistance.
In their letter of appeal for community support, PAC treasurer Yvonne Hauk explains that the existing playground equipment is in a state of disrepair and remaining structures are being permanently dismantled one by one due to safety concerns.
She says a wheelchair accessible set of playground equipment would be a dream come true for the two students who are in wheelchairs.
The rough quote for play structures similar to those in Kiwanis Park is approximately $65,000 plus $25,000 for site preparation and protective surfacing and a further $5,000 for installation and certification for a total of $95,000.
Every year the school organizes several school fundraisers with participation by 20 to 30 families.
They expect to have saved $10,000 by the end of this year for the new equipment.
The letter also notes that the equipment would be used both during school hours and when school is not in session.
Marie Sharpe Elementary School was built in 1950 and its central location makes it, not only a place of education, but also a site for gathering, athletics and play by the whole community, the letter states.
For example the school is used for the after school Rec’n Roll program, by the Boys & Girls Club. It is also home to a day care and various after school and evening activities.
“As you know, the downtown population of Williams Lake (which makes up the catchment area of our school) has become predominantly low income,” Hauk says.
The PAC says Marie Sharpe school enrolment is approximately 280 children, of which 50 per cent are First Nations, 18 per cent require assistance from the school to provide meals and eight per cent of students have special needs.
People who may have donations for the project can call Hauk at 250-305-9349.
