The dilemma
While wood-chips are technically considered wheelchair accessible, the reality is they're very difficult for a child to traverse. After carefully considering the options, the Tennyson 2020 committee agreed the best surface for our playground is pour-in place rubber flooring because it's durable, low maintenance and extremely accessible. The cost of pour-in place rubber flooring is more than $100,000.
So what's happening now?
- The Vancouver Project Office (VPO) at the Vancouver School Board (VSB) confirmed they will still cover the cost of curbing the site but they can't cover the cost of the rubberized surfacing. The proposed curbing will be exactly what is needed for the rubberized surfacing.
- The Tennyson 2020 committee are still in discussions with the VSB but are also to applying to not-for-profit societies for grants to cover the full cost of the surfacing. If we receive the grants we can go ahead as planned for a Fall 2020/Winter 2021 install.
- If we don't receive the grants, the VSB will consider including Tennyson in next year's round of provincial Playground Equipment Program applications. It's not guaranteed that we will get this funding but if we do it will cover most of the cost of the surfacing, and installation could go ahead Spring/Summer 2021.
Why are we telling you this?
The Tennyson 2020 committee wants everyone to be aware of the playground plans because the playground is for all our children; the parents are paying for it and we want to hear your thoughts. If there are questions or concerns regarding the pour-in rubber surfacing, then we will schedule the playground resurfacing for further discussion at an upcoming PAC meeting.
Here is some data that you should know
- The Provincial Government's Seismic Mitigation Program Progress Report – December 2019 shows 243 schools are now seismically safe or at some stage of the construction process and 248 schools are still waiting to begin.
- The Provincial Government's website states they've already spent over $1.6B on seismic upgrade projects throughout the province.
- Through the hard work and generosity of current and past Tennyson parents over the last ten years we've raised more than $130,000 to pay for the new playground structure.
- This year we are fundraising $40,000 this year for classroom projectors.