Playground Program Could Be Back In Original Glory
“We will be back in the playgrounds”
Last year the annual community playground program put on by the City took on a different form than it normally does but this year if the Province allows it in their re-opening plan the Summer staple will be returning in full force.
The next two weeks will be telling on what shape the program will take as the City awaits the Province’s decision on the numbers and what type of outdoor gatherings will be allowed under the COVID - 19 pandemic
Offered by the City for decades the Playground Program has seen Summer Parks and Recreation staff go out into some neighbourhood parks and provide programming for the neighbourhood children.
“That is a program near and dear to our hearts,” city manager Jim Puffalt said in response to questions from MJ Independent about the future of the highly popular program this year.
The playground program works in a drop-in format where children up to age 12 are welcome to drop in and participate in a number of supervised games and other activities during a six week period each Summer. The program is staffed by Summer students.
Some children participating turn the program into a full day affair bringing their lunch everyday to participate while others drop in for a few hours on an irregular basis during the Summer.
In past years the City extended the program for teens as well. Games such as pool and basketball for teens was offered at an east side school gym.
The playground program is designed to provide a cost-efficient play program utilizing city playgrounds and making the program accessible to as many children as possible within the city.
Puffalt said this year the program will be fully staffed and in the next two weeks the City’s business unit will make the determination on just how the program can operate given what the Province’s directives are at that time.
“We will be back in the playgrounds,” Puffalt said. “We will have a little bit of lead time and planning for the program.”