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Blacklock Elementary parents working to replace unsafe playground

PAC needs to raise $80,000 to pay for new equipment, bark mulch

Parents at little Blacklock Elementary are trying to raise around $80,000 to replace their unsafe playground.

It’s no easy feat to come up with that kind of money, said PAC president Kristina Haglof.

“The maintenance department has deemed it unsafe and it is slippery on some parts,” said Haglof.

The PAC has been fundraising to replace the aging structure for about two years and are making a plea to the public to help.

If they donate $25 or more, they can get a tax receipt through the Langley School District Foundation, she said.

“They require we use bark mulch, we don’t want to, but we have to,” she said. “That alone costs $5,000.”

Haglof, who has three daughters going to Blacklock, said their playground is well used not just by students but by many in the community.

Siblings who come to watch Langley City baseball teams play on it as does members of the community, she said.

The PAC has raised nearly $30,000 so far.

She has spoken to a playground making company and they told her the structure can be installed in increments.

“It would be great to get something going in there during spring break so that kids could come back to school with a nice surprise,” she said.

Blacklock’s PAC is  just one of nearly a dozen elementary school PACs being forced to come up with cash to replace aging playgrounds. Alex Hope Elementary PAC just had several donations, including $25,000 from the Township, to buy a new playground. They had gone without one since the older structure was condemned in September.

If you would like to donate to Blacklock’s playground replacement write a cheque to Langley School District Foundation indicating it is for Blacklock Playground sending it to the school board office.

You can also donate online at langleyschooldistrictfoundation.com.



Monique Tamminga

About the Author: Monique Tamminga

Monique brings 20 years of award-winning journalism experience to the role of editor at the Penticton Western News. Of those years, 17 were spent working as a senior reporter and acting editor with the Langley Advance Times.
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