By Caitlin Brezinski

Prince Albert gets first wheelchair accessible playground

Oct 17, 2014 | 5:55 PM

A $100,000 project to provide a new wheelchair accessible playground for St. Anne School has drawn support from numerous donors throughout the Prince Albert community.

A presentation on Friday morning brought students and staff together to thank the donors for their support. 

“Schools don’t pay for that anymore so without the community, we’d be in trouble; [the] kids would be in trouble,” said Kelly Zbaraschuk, a member of the school community council.

Zbaraschuk is a parent of two students at the school. She said her and her husband were able to help install the structure over two days during August of last year. This past August, the rubberized matting underneath was completed.

“My daughter came home and she said it feels like walking on marshmallows,” she said.

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Zbaraschuk said the play structure needed to be wheelchair accessible because its important to the school and the city. 

“There is nowhere in this city that makes it accessible for all children to play and that was important to us,” she said. “There have been children over the years in this school who have been in wheelchairs who wouldn’t be able to be out and play with their friends, now they can.”

The playground is also available for members of the public to use after school hours. 

“That’s what our goal was and I am so excited that it is done and we have been able to achieve our goal and my kids get to enjoy it and kids for years to come are going to enjoy it,” she said.

Melissa Hrynuik and Laurie Laturnas of the Prince Albert Optimist Club presented a check for $10,000.

“When St. Anne’s approached us for [their playground], we thought it would be a good idea because it helps more kids and that’s what the Optimist Club is all about, helping kids out,” said Hrynuik, president of the club.

Hrynuik said she is happy with the feedback that has been given so far.

“It’s great, it’s nice to see the kids playing on it and enjoying it and the big thank you from them.  It’s very nice that they did that for us,” she said.

Canadian Tire owner Malcolm Jenkins said he was glad to help out donating to the playground.

“Lots of friends of mine have kids here now or have had kids that have gone through and I’ve always held St. Anne’s in very high esteem so they needed something and we were happy to help in some small way to make it happen,” he said.

Mitchell Holash has had three of his sons go through St. Anne school.  He said he’s donated because the school has been paramount in helping his children become more engaged.

“There’s just a real magic here that deserves to have the community support,” he said. “This is a beautiful playground.  The kids are having fun so the staff and committee here did a great job.”

Although the structure is completed, there is still a small amount of debt to pay off to the school board and Zbaraschuk said they will continue to fundraise each spring.

Zbaraschuk said a donor tree display is in the works to be set up in the school in the near future.

“So that anytime anyone comes in, they can see the generous support of all of these wonderful people,” she said.

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