Should city cash be paying for public school playground upgrades?

Three years into a grant program that gives money to spruce up London's neighbourhoods, parents at publicly-funded schools have emerged as the best-organized groups asking for the largest chunks of cash. 

This weekend, Londoners of all ages in all parts of the city got to vote on their choice for a project that would get part of a $250,000 fund meant to spur projects that bring neighbours together. Nineteen of those projects are at schools. 

That's raising eyebrows and questions about the equity of the Neighbourhood Decision Making program and whether city tax dollars should be funding projects that could be funded by school boards or the provincial ministry of education.  

In its first year, one school put forth its idea for school funding, and got it. That was Byron Northview Public School, which got $30,000 for an outdoor education centre. 

Last year, two schools were put on the ballot and both got money for their projects: $17,400 for school yard enhancements and $50,000 received an outdoor classroom for Cedar Hollow Public School. 

This year, of the 19 school-based projects on the ballot, 12 are for playgrounds. The school boards don't pay for playgrounds and the task of raising money for them is often left to parent councils. Playgrounds can cost upwards $50,000. 

Other school-based projects on the ballot include new or upgraded basketball courts and soccer fields, a reading garden and a fruit-and-vegetable garden. 

Wealthier schools better organized

"I have concerns about filling a gap that is created by another level of government. We have our own really big challenges with funding gaps, changes in funding formulas, downloading, whatever you want to call it," said Ward. 5 Coun. Maureen Cassidy. 

"If schools aren't able to build a playground, is it a good thing for the city to step in to do it? That's one side. At the same time, schools serve as really important hubs in neighbourhoods and they're really important parts of communities," she said. 

The same schools who organize really well are the ones who are really good at fundraising, Cassidy said, raising issues of equity. 

Last year, Cedar Hollow Public School, which opened its doors in 2017, got $50,000 for a new outdoor classroom, for example. It's surrounded by sprawling single-family homes. Other schools in needier neighbourhoods didn't even apply for the funding, Cassidy pointed out. 

Lord Nelson Public School, for example, has been trying to raise $60,000 for a new playground after two structures were taken out for insurance reasons. It has not put forth a campaign for money from the city. 

School boards have been allocated $1.4 billion for "major repair and replacement work," a ministry of education spokesperson said, and a portion of those funds can be used to upgrade playgrounds. But in reality, the priority for school boards is funding for classrooms and learning spaces. 

"In the data we collect, it's no surprise that there's a strong relationship between average family income and more fundraising, so we look at what schools are raising money for and the worry is that some of those things might looks like extras, but they're core to education," said Annie Kidder, of the advocacy group People for Education. 

"The evidence is really strong that good quality play outside makes a difference for kids. To us, playgrounds are a core part of education and the quality of a playground does make a difference." 

Review to happen this year

The Neighbourhood Decision Making process is reviewed every year. 

After last year's, a cap of $30,000 was put on projects after the Cedar Hollow school outdoor classroom got the entire $50,000 for the northeast part of the city. 

"This is the third year of the program and it will get a full review. Schools are public spaces but they're not outdoor spaces that you can use during the school day like a playground in a park," said Ward 12 Coun. Elizabeth Peloza. "Then again, in some neighbourhoods, it's the only park in the area." 

Some communities are much better able to mobilize the vote for their projects, with people waving signs and encouraging neighbours to vote for their idea. 

"It's great that an entire school comes out to do this until you're just an individual with an idea and you can't win against that kind of mobilization," Peloza said. 

Democracy at work

Ward 7 Coun. Josh Morgan, who spearheaded the Neighbourhood Decision Making idea, said he's doesn't share the same concerns as Cassidy or Peloza. 

"One of the true value points of the program is the process. It's the thinking through ideas, crafting them, getting your neighbours together to vote on them. There's a true and inherent democratic process in this," Morgan said. 

"We generate many different ideas and we can correct the equity issue by trying to bring some of those other ideas that don't win to fruition." 

The parks and recreation department has used ideas put forth by neighbourhoods for its multi-year master plan, Morgan added.