School begins fundraising for accessible playground

By?Lori McKay - The Weekly News
Elizabeth Sutherland School in Spryfield is raising money for a new accessible playground and is looking to the community for support.
Jan Drisdelle, whose seven-year-old son goes to the school, says there's a small group of parents, including herself, who have banded together to fundraise for the project.
"The playground here now is run down, muddy and in terrible condition," said Drisdelle of the existing 15-plus-year-old structure. "Also, there are a lot of disabled children at the school and there's nothing for them to play with at all. We want to make it accessible."
They plan to install a Boundless Playground, which is designed to allow all children, regardless of any perceived disability, to join in on the playground and play as equals with their peers.
The anticipated cost of the project is about $250,000 and will include play structures configured to support the children's development, accessible pathways, safety surfacing, playground equipment such as swings with back supports, elevated activity panels and some landscaping that will need to be done to incorporate sloping on the school property.
Drisdelle says they expect it to take at least two years of fundraising efforts before they have enough money.
Spryfield - Herring Cove Coun. Stephen Adams has committed $35,000 of his capital funds over two years to the playground.
"This is a great little project," said Adams. "Especially since it will be an all-inclusive park, so children that couldn't otherwise play, will be able to play as well."
The school is organizing its first major fundraising event - a winter fair - and Drisdelle hopes the public will come out to support them.
"This is our first big event and we hope to make $5,000," she said.
The winter fair will take place on Jan. 29 at the school, 66 Rockingstone Rd., Spryfield, and will include games, food, a 28-foot obstacle course and snowball toss. Tickets will be sold at the door. Event starts at 6 p.m.
lmckay@hfxnews.ca