School playground in Aldergrove condemned; children have nowhere to play

VANCOUVER — Over 240 kids in Aldergrove don’t have anywhere to play.

Their school playground at North Otter Elementary has been considered too unsafe for use, and has been cordoned off.

The principal sent parents a letter, explaining the playground is in a “grievous state of disrepair” and “a hazard for children to play on.” It has to be completely removed, as the maintenance manager assessed it and found that even if repaired, it would not meet safety standards.

“We are left with only on option — we must replace the playground with new equipment,” writes the principal, D. Chretien, in the letter. However, he goes on to note the school does not currently have the $80,000 to $90,000 to pay for a new park.

“Brand new schools are going up all over Langley, in all these new subdivisions, and they’re getting brand new playgrounds. The District seems to have money for those,” Jackie Godin, a parent at North Otter, told Global News.

“We’re in desperate need of a new playground for these kids. We have over 240 kids here who have no where to play,” says Sandra Sumners, another parent at North Otter. They say though there are affluent families in the area, others are struggling and it’s a lot of money to expect parents to raise.

Parent Nicole Shore says it’s an overwhelming project. “It just feels like too huge a goal, and it feels like my kids are going to be graduated from high school before the new playground comes in.”

–With files from Tanya Beja.