Two playground upgrades are making outdoor play more accessible for children in the Campbell River area.
The Strathcona Regional District held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Mitlenatch Park on Oct. 23 to celebrate accessibility improvements. The event included a welcome and blessing from James Quatell of Wei Wai Kum First Nation.
The project added two pieces of accessible playground equipment: an All-Around Spinner, an inclusive alternative to a traditional merry-go-round, and a We Rock, an accessible version of a teeter-totter.
The regional district also paved the pathway from the park entrance to the playground and installed accessible rubber surfacing made from recycled B.C. tires.
“Accessibility is about more than infrastructure. It is about ensuring everyone has opportunities to participate in community life,” said Susan Sinnott, chair of the Strathcona Accessibility and Inclusion Advisory Committee. “Playgrounds are places where children build friendships, families connect and communities come together. These improvements help make those experiences more accessible to everyone.”
Meanwhile, Pinecrest Elementary in Campbell River has replaced much of its playground’s wood chips with rubberized surfacing to improve access for children using wheelchairs, walkers and other mobility aids.
The Campbell River School District said the project received a $19,328.21 grant from Tire Stewardship BC, matched through the district’s annual facilities grant.
The resurfacing builds on a $198,000 provincial investment in new playground equipment at Pinecrest Elementary in 2024.
