Pandemic Forces Changes To Playground Program

It’s a program which has been around for at least 50 years and enjoyed by thousands of children over the decades but this year, due to the COVID - 19 pandemic, things are changing. But the good news is the program is continuing.

At Monday evening's Council meeting changes to this year's Summer Play Program were announced.

The Playground Program has traditionally seen City's Parks and Recreation Department staff attend neighbourhood parks in July and August where they have supervised games, play, story telling and other activities for children ages 5 - 12. The program is of s drop-in nature and free for all to attend.

Some children in the past have attended everyday and even brought their lunches.

Part of the 2019 Summer Playground Program warm-up event - Facebook photo

What was proposed was a modified stay at home program, fashioned along the lines of the Education Stay At Home Program. Accordimg to the provincial government's phasing in of the province's economy the playground program would be able to operate in Phase Four which would mean no traditional playground program in 2020.

Funding for program would be through grant funding from Saskatchewan Lotteries, Community Initiatives Fund and Canada Summer Jobs in the amount of $45,848.

“There is still an opportunity to provide a program with reduced staff that will follow public health measures to date,” recreation services manager Scott Osmachenko said. “Activities and supply kits are provided (free of charge) to children five to 12 years old.”

Although modelled somewhat on the school program the municipal modified Playground Program would focus on physical activity.

“Our plan is to re-call five five Summer playground staff as we received funding for these under the Canada Summer Jobs fund,” he said.

Councillor Chris Warren asked about how effective an on-line program would be given his children's experiences with on-line learning.

“For the first little while the kids were into it but it quickly faded. It was difficult to keep them on track,” Councillor Warren said.

Osmachenko replied the program would not be on-line based but something more in line with more smaller neighbourhood events which could include such things as picnics, chalk drawing and scavenger hunts.

If children dud not have a soccer ball, frisbees or other apparatus the City would provide them so there would be no barriers to children participating, he said.

Part of the 2019 Summer Playground Program wrap-up event - Facebook photo

Despite Phase Three allowing up to 30 people to gather their are restrictions which only allow such recreational programs to only take place in Phase Four.

Osmachenko aswered a question from Councillor Warren that if Phase Four came early enough there could be some type of adaptation with present funding to return to a more traditional Summer playground program.

“We could adapt the program to do more programming if Phase Four came in (with the present funding,” Osmachenko said.

In a unanimous vote Council approved the modified Summer Playgrounds Program