Project Background

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The playground replacement at Earl Grey Elementary School is being prompted by the mandated removal of the existing playground by the Calgary Board of Education (CBE) as it is nearing the end of its safe lifespan in accordance with CBE standards.  

 

In the fall of 2023, CBE informed Mr. Lowe, that it was time to start the process to replace the playground.  The parent council, parents, alumni and/or community are responsible for helping the school plan and fund the playground replacement.  CBE will remove the existing structure and will maintain it once the new playground is installed.  However, they will not plan, fund or install the new playground.   

 

This allows us the opportunity to re-imagine the space and ensure that all members of the school community, Mount Royal and surrounding neighbourhoods that visit the playground will be able to enjoy time outdoors in new, engaging and more accessible ways. 

 

Our current playground was installed in October 2005.  The recommended life span of a playground is generally 8 to 10 years, with many playgrounds lasting an additional 5-10 years. Our current playground structures are almost 20 years old. 

 

In 2018, a group of Earl Grey parents, along with parent council, initiated a project to upgrade the playground and its surrounding areas and walkways.  A significant amount of preparation, consideration and work was done, however a couple of weeks after the fundraising was launched in 2020, the pandemic shut everything down.  Consequently, the playground project was put on hold.  The project was not resumed due to the uncertainty that followed and a number of transitions in the parent group that was leading the project.  

 

Prior to the shutdown, the project had been approved for the Project Support Program with Parks Foundation Calgary which provides fund administration and the issuance of tax receipts.  In the few weeks of fundraising in 2020, almost $50,000 was raised and has been held by Parks Foundation Calgary on behalf of Earl Grey.  

 

In the fall of 2022, Mr. Lowe coordinated with parent council and a parent volunteer to review the status of the funds and propose a plan to use the funds on improvements to the playground areas at the school.  This round of planning was put on hold in the spring of 2023 when Earl Grey was designated an overflow school and the number of students entering Earl Grey increased significantly and rapidly.     

 

Communication has been maintained with Parks Foundation Calgary and the project scope updated accordingly.  Parks Foundation Calgary will continue to provide the Project Support Program to administer funds and issue tax receipts for our current Earl Grey Playground Revitalization project.  

 

We are very thankful for the groundwork that started in 2018 and initial funds that were raised in 2020 as they provide us with a strong starting point today.  In recognition of this foresight and support, we respectfully refer to the initial donors and volunteers as legacy donors in current fundraising.