Nelson’s Wildflower School has transformed a former parking lot into a playground for students to enjoy.
In a media release, School District 8 refers to the playground as a “wildscape” that features an increased amount of green space, creating an area of natural habitat for students to play and explore.
The playground also has a ball hockey and basketball court. It features a two-metre-high earthen hill with a railing and natural steps, a slide, and perennial gardens around the perimeter of the hill for students to sit and play. The playground is also designed to serve as an outdoor gathering and teaching space.
“We have realized a long-term goal of the parents, students, and staff of Nelson Wildflower to enhance a portion of the tarmac at the former Central School building so that children can enjoy a vibrant natural playground to complement the school’s sports field, and raised garden area,” said principal Misty Terpstra in the media release from School District 8.
The release also stated that the project cost a total of $60,000. It was partially funded by the Nelson Wildflower parent advisory council (PAC) who contributed $45,000 raised over the last four years. School District 8 contributed the remaining $15,000 that went towards the slide.
The project was approved by the district in spring 2022, following which the Wildflower PAC hired North Mountain Construction to make their vision of a wild, outdoor play space a reality over the next year.
“We are so thrilled to have this natural playground completed and to see children playing in it every day,” said Nelson Wildflower PAC Chair Megan Paterson. “This has been a community effort and couldn’t have been completed without the dedication of our PAC, SD8 staff and so many others who supported the project.”