Summerland family aims to get accessible playground built for kids with mobility issues – Okanagan

Like most young children, Golland Van GURP loves playgrounds, but the one in her school allows a 1st -class student to use swinging.

Six -year -old lives with Quadrillegicic Cerebral paralysis And has significant problems with mobility.

However, the playground in the primary school Trout Creek is neither a wheelchair nor comfortable for walking.

“The most difficult thing is every day when I take her from school … All children play. I get all the big questions: “Why don't my legs work, like everyone else? Why can't I play with friends? “, – said Van GURP.

“So this is yes, it is very difficult.”

Worse, according to Van Gurp, this is the fact that the playground in any case is approaching the end of life, and it will need to be replaced.

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She said that she was shocked, that the plans for replacing the school district did not include accessibility.

“I just think that they receive a certain budget, and that’s all in the budget,” said Van GURP.

Refusing to accept it, Van GURP and Holland launch a fundraising campaign during what is a world cerebral day.

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The family hopes to collect from $ 80,000 to $ 100,000 in the coming months – the money, according to her, at least cover the rubber surface to make the site accessible.

“Then, I hope that if there is anything left, for equipment or certain things that we need for the playground,” Van GURP said.


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The province announces the financing of 25 new playgrounds throughout BC


At the end of Monday, the Okanagan-Shkakh school district stated in an electronic letter to Global News that he approved a request to finance capital to the Ministry of Education and Children's Care to support the development of an accessible gaming site in the primary school of Trout Creek.

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“The school district expects to receive a response from the ministry in the beginning of the spring of 2026 regarding this request for financing,” the email says.

But how much does a financing request cost or whether it is approved is not known.

Van GURP does not waste time, saying that it will be raised by funds until the money is.

“Everyone should have the opportunity to play,” said Van GURP. “I do not think that someone should be excluded, and I think that in 2025, when we are engaged in playgrounds, we must build them in order to be built for everyone.”

The first official funding collector on Monday included a walk led by Holland, using its walker, as well as the sale of cupcakes.

Van GURP said there will be many more funds.

The family will create an online assembly of funds to help maintain business.

For those who want to sacrifice now, you can send money transfers [email protected]Field


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Breaking ice into disability in the classroom


& Copy 2025 Global News, Corus Entertainment Inc.

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