Parents are determined to see new playground equipment come to their Okotoks school.
The parent council at École Percy Pegler is fundraising for three new play structures it says would benefit both students at the elementary school and kids in the wider community.
Kim Evans, on the parent council outdoor committee, said with its proximity to the spray park at Wylie Park, the school’s playgrounds are among the most used in Okotoks.
New play structures would be built in stages, beginning with a tower-style playground in 2025, and inclusive playground in 2026, and possibly a third structure in 2027, Evans said.
One of the existing playgrounds is in dire need of replacement and is well over its 20-year lifespan, she said.
All told, the playgrounds have a price tag of about $800,000. Fundraising efforts are underway, including a silent auction that closes on Dec. 18.
“We're working on different sponsorship opportunities, and we want to put in monuments that will have plaques of those who sponsor,” Evans said.
She approached the Town of Okotoks for financial support for the project but was turned down.
“I found that quite disappointing because we're right in proximity to the rec centre,” Evans said. “Citizens utilize our playgrounds more than any of the other playgrounds.”
During the Town of Okotoks budget meeting, Mayor Tanya Thorn said playgrounds are a vital part of the community, but at schools they are a provincial responsibility.
The Town maintains 53 of the 73 playgrounds in Okotoks, according to information provided during that meeting.
The playground project at Percy Pegler could be eligible for up to $125,000 in grant funding through the province’s Community Facility Enhancement Program. As a matching grant, those applying must have raised an amount equal to or exceeding the grant request.
Evans said families are expected to raise money for needed playgrounds, and parent councils at many schools are facing hurdles finding the necessary funding.
Visit percy-pegler-outdoor-spaces.square.site to learn more about plans for new playgrounds at the school.
