The Twin Rivers Elementary Parent Advisory Council is holding a craft and vendor market to raise money for a new playground for the Castlegar Primary campus.
The market will be held Saturday, Nov. 26 in the Twin Rivers gym, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. Entry is $2 or a food bank donation. Money raised will go toward the purchase and installation of a new playground for the primary students.
“We’ve discovered this fall that our playground is failing,” explains Catherine Zaitsoff, chair of Twin Rivers PAC.
While immediate concerns have been dealt with and the equipment is safe for students to use, there are structural issues that will need to be addressed sooner than later. The fall protective rubber around the playground is disintegrating, the monkey bars and slide need to be replaced, and unfortunately buying spare parts to make repairs isn’t an option.
“The playground was bought 10 to 15 years ago and the company is no longer in business, so that’s also a reason why we need to replace the equipment, because we can’t get any parts,” says Zaitsoff.
The total cost for the new playground is estimated between $100,000 and $150,000. Pouring new fall protection matting alone will cost $30,000 to $50,000. There is a Tire Stewardship BC grant available if recycled rubber is used for the matting, and Zaitsoff says the PAC hopes to get one, but won’t be able to apply for it until January.
“Then we just have to decide what kind of equipment we want. If we want it the same size, if we want to cut back,” says Zaitsoff. “Because we’re now one school, we’re hoping the equipment will compliment what’s already at the Twin Rivers building.”
The craft and vendor market will kick off the playground fundraising campaign. FortisBC has also offered light bulbs for the school to sell at a profit, and money raised through that initiative will also go toward the playground. “And then we’re looking for things in the new year, because Castlegar Primary is turning 50 in January,” says Zaitsoff.
There may still be tables available for the craft and vendor fair. The fee is $25 for an eight-foot table. Anyone wishing to sell handmade goods at the event can contact Betty Stefani by Facebook or at 250-551-2803.