WATCH ABOVE: Parents of students at St. Josephs-Alexander McKay Elementary say a construction project has encroached on their kids’ school and playground and they’re concerned for their safety. Global’s Dave Squires reports.
HALIFAX – Parents of students at St. Joseph’s – Alexander McKay Elementary in central Halifax say a construction project has encroached on their kids’ school and playground and they’re concerned for their safety.
Heather Collins is one of those concerned parents. She says the construction site and an imposing fence have rendered the playground and the basketball court unusable and dangerous.
“It’s not a safe environment for kids to play in anymore,” said Collins.
Parents and children fundraised to have the playground built. Chris Poole says with the addition of a construction fence, the basketball nets are now useless. He adds that having the construction site so close to the school is a safety hazard.
“How can you have your kids playing on this playground when you are going to have a crane building a nine story building rotating above here.”
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The city gave Dexel Development approval to build an apartment complex next to the playground. Parents say they have been fighting a battle over boundaries since the construction began. They say the problem is escalating, and kids have gone into the excavation pit to retrieve basketballs. Heather Collins says they feel their concerns are not being heard.
“I feel like all the conversations and emails have been in circles,” said Collins.
The City of Halifax owns the land the school and the development is on, but they say the Halifax Regional School Board has legal standing in the case. Councillor for the area Jennifer Watts says the issue is complicated and negotiations are ongoing to provide a solution.
“It’s unclear what should happen. I don’t think we’ve had a major development like this happen so close to a school property. There is a lot of back and forth as to who has rights here,” said Watts
Kevin Collins says he hopes there is a solution before the school starts in September.
“Another major concern is our kids ability to get to and from school, they are transiting a major construction area,” said Collins
Neither the school board or the developer responded to a request for an interview.
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