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Donalda School removes ‘unsafe equipment’ from playground

Aging playground equipment at Donalda School was removed last week after the school, parents and Clearview School Division realized

Aging playground equipment at Donalda School was removed last week after the school, parents and Clearview School Division realized the equipment wasn’t safe for children.

“We do inspections of our school playgrounds every year and found that the equipment at Donalda has significant problems,” said Clearview secretary-treasurer Lewis Hill.

Initially, when two components of the playground were condemned, the school division asked the school community and parents’ group to try to determine the future viability of the playground.

“They came back to us and told us to remove all the equipment,” Hill said.

Taking down the “unsafe equipment” became a priority for the Donalda School Parents’ Society.

“Consensus from the playground committee was that the entire playground be removed,” said Shauna Wilkie, who chairs the committee.

“For the safety of children, we decided to have no playground than to have an unsafe playground.”

About 15 years old, the wood-structure playground at Donalda School was showing signs of age and wearing, Wilkie said.

“We hope to have a playground for the start of the 2014-15 school year. We are working with two playground companies to get a feasible plan.”

While teeter totters, monkey bars, slides and a sliding glider were removed, two swing sets were retained, she said.

Most schools and playgrounds in the region have modern and durable equipment that’s deemed safer for children than the old-fashioned wood structure in Donalda.

Parents and the committee plan to soon begin fundraising for new playground equipment.