Green Shacks worth funding

Re: “Green Shacks are safe places to play; Free summer program in 180 communities,” the Journal, Aug. 5. This so-called free summer program is not free. The Green Shack program is funded by community leagues, the city and the federal and provincial governments. It wasn’t always that way. In the 1960s, I worked as a playground leader in a Maythrough-August program that was completely funded by the city’s parks and recreation department. We had tremendous support, including a two-week training course, roving playground players and a professional arts and crafts team. It was a fabulous summer program.

In the ’60s, leaders worked at playgrounds, wading pools and neighbourhood parks — funded completely by the city.

Over the past 50 years, funding for community buildings and programs has been downloaded onto community leagues, which depend on fundraising and grants to build and operate playgrounds, spray parks, skating rinks, tennis courts and halls.

Because of the decreased funding from the province and the city, summer programs now run a mere six weeks, rather than the four months they did when I was a leader.

The Green Shack program is a vital component of our children’s summer experiences. The city and the province need to re-establish full funding for this popular neighbourhood recreational program. Elna Nash, former president, Greenfield Community League, Edmonton