Summary

• For construction of new, accessible school playgrounds, 25 school communities will each receive $200,000 
• Since 2018, the Province has supported students and families with more than $50 million toward new playgrounds at more than 330 schools, benefiting more than 88,000 students

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Through Budget 2026, students throughout B.C. will have access to modern, inclusive playground equipment so they can continue to learn and grow.

“Every child deserves the opportunity to enjoy a safe and accessible place to play,” said Premier David Eby. “Playgrounds are outdoor classrooms that teach our children valuable life skills – exploration, imagination, risk taking. This is about making life better for our children and easing the fundraising pressure on parents and schools, so they can focus on other great things for their kids.”

New funding expands playground access throughout B.C.

Twenty-five school communities will each receive $200,000 toward a new playground.

“Let the kids play and grow! Playgrounds are vital to the physical and cognitive development of children,” said Bowinn Ma, Minister of Infrastructure. “With this additional round of funding, we’ll have delivered a total of 332 new playgrounds to schools across the province since 2018.”

Every B.C. school district has received at least one playground since the program started in 2018.

“Play is an important part of education. It helps children stay active, build friendships, solve problems and grow in confidence," said Lisa Beare, Minister of Education and Child Care. “Students all over British Columbia are benefiting from accessible places to play, learn and grow, thanks to government’s playground fund.”

Accessible playgrounds support student mental health and well-being

• Playgrounds support children’s development by encouraging physical activity that builds strength, co-ordination and overall health.
• Playgrounds promote social skills, creativity and problem-solving as kids learn to interact, share and navigate play together.

“This investment allows parent advisory councils to focus on enriching school communities instead of fundraising for expensive playground equipment,” said Kendra Mann, president, BC Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils. “Playgrounds play a crucial role in schools and neighbourhoods, creating safe, welcoming spaces where children can play, connect and develop a sense of belonging. Ongoing support like this helps ease financial strain on families, while fostering stronger, healthier, more-connected communities.”

Supporting students throughout B.C.

Since 2018, the Province has supported students and families with more than $50 million toward new playgrounds at more than 330 schools, benefiting more than 88,000 students.

In addition to playground space, since 2017, the Province has approved more than $7 billion to create more than 47,000 new student seats and more than 39,000 seismically safer seats in B.C. schools. Of these spaces, more than 23,500 new student seats and more than 33,000 seismically safer seats are complete provincewide.

As the Province grows, government is committed to working with school districts and municipalities to provide all students with safe, modern and inspiring places to play and learn.

Quotes:

Anne Kang, MLA for Burnaby Centre –

“As a mother and a former Burnaby teacher, I know first-hand that playgrounds are important spaces for students and the broader community. They support children’s physical activity, social development and creativity, while also creating inclusive places where families and neighbours can connect outside of school hours. These investments help build stronger communities for generations to come.”

Rohini Arora, MLA for Burnaby-Edmonds –

“School playgrounds play a key role in bringing students and communities together. They encourage active play, support children’s development, and provide welcoming spaces for families and neighbours to gather beyond the school day.”

Kristin Schnider, chair, Burnaby Board of Education –

“We’re grateful to the provincial government for investing in accessible playgrounds that provide all children with inclusive and welcoming places to play. Enjoying the playground at Morley Elementary is a key part of the school day for students, where they further develop motor skills, nurture friendships and delight in the joys of play.”

Learn More:

• To learn more about the playground equipment program, visit: 
  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/administration/capital/programs

A backgrounder follows.