St Adolphe School parents ask SRSD for new play structure funds

St Adolphe School parents are asking the Seine River School Division board to come up with funding and apply for a provincial grant to build a new play structure, after the school’s previous play structure was removed last year.

Members of the school’s parent advisory council presented a plan for the $200,000 play structure to the school board and asked for $46,000 during a May 12 meeting. The previous play structure was removed from the Kindergarten to Grade 8 school in June 2025 when an inspection deemed it unsafe.

“Seeing it empty was very disheartening for myself, and for the kids in the neighborhood and the family in the neighborhood because a lot of them didn’t know. But it also kicked (the council) into action to realize we needed to do whatever we could to get them a new playground,” said Michelle Prairie, the council’s president.

Her eight-year-old son attends the school and told her multiple times that he misses the play structure, she said, adding that its been hard on all students.

The council began a fundraising push in September 2025 to get a new play structure installed. Since then, the parent group has raised $54,000 through bingo nights, socials and Krispy Kreme donut sales. Local businesses have donated funds to the project. Prairie said the Rural Municipality of Ritchot also expressed interest in getting the play structure built and offered support during construction, bringing the cost down from $250,000 to $200,000

The potential play structure’s design is billed as accessible and includes ramps and easy access for both students and adults with mobility needs. It also would have sensory and communication panels to give non-verbal children different ways to participate and play.

“It is very important for us that no matter the ability of a child, that they’re able to get up there and play at some portion of it with their fellow students and friends,” Prairie said.

The playground serves as a community gathering space with parents often bringing younger children to play and sports games hosted in the neighbouring fields, she said.

The provincial government included a new $3 million play structure fund in its 2026 budget. The funding would offer up to $100,000 towards the applicant’s approved projects. Prairie said if the school division applies for the funding, she’s optimistic it will be granted.

The council is hoping to have the play structure built by August or September in time for the school year. If the funding isn’t secured, it could be multiple years of fundraising before it could be built, said Kristy Boyko, a member of the council.

“Although the school and the kids are amazing, they’re playing with rocks and they’re loving it for now. But that’s only going to last so long,” she told the school board.

The school board held off from making a decision on the requested funds during the meeting and asked school division’s administration to gather information from the province about the funding application process to present at the May 26 meeting.