Summary
Over the course of the next five years over 100 schools in the Vancouver school district will need to
replace or update their existing playground equipment. This decision was made following a recent study
on 124 playgrounds in the district. The capital investment needed to replace the playground equipment
is valued at $3 million. This includes $2.1 million for new equipment, and $559,000 for cost of
demolition and installation. These various playground renovation projects are expected to be completed
by 2014.
Background:
Parental concerns over safety and the general status of playground equipment is the driving force
behind the need for replacing or upgrading playground equipment for children. Over the past five years,
in British Columbia, there have been cuts to education funding and after-school projects. This coupled
with a decrease on spending of infrastructure means that very few upgrades to playground equipment
have taken place in the past few years.
In 2008, Canada’s imports of playground equipment totaled approximately USD$ 31.8 million, of which
more than 50% was from the United States. British Columbia represents 5% of this import market. In
2008 British Columbia imported $1.6 million of this type of equipment.
Canadian schools operate on a citywide district school board. Thus each elementary school in
Vancouver falls under the jurisdiction of the Vancouver School Board. (http://www.vsb.bc.ca/). Similarly
there are 13 suburbs that comprise Metro Vancouver with individual playground equipment needs. US
firms interested in supplying playground equipment to these schools need to be aware of the numerous
school districts and Parent Advisory Councils (PAC) involved in the program.