School board promises speedy replacement of burned playground

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board will pitch in to speed up the replacement of the playground at a Beacon Hill elementary school that was burned to the ground earlier this month, says trustee Sandra Schwartz.

Ottawa police are investigating the fire that destroyed the kindergarten play structure at Le Phare school at 1965 Naskapi Drive.

Normally, the process of replacing a playground takes years, and the parent council covers most of the cost.

Given the unusual circumstances, the school board will do whatever it can to speed the process along, perhaps kicking in funding, Schwartz said. Some money may also be available from the fire insurance. Details are still being worked out, she said.

A design must be approved for what will replace the structure that was used by kindergarten students. The school council might decide on a more “natural” playground using logs, rocks and native plants, for instance, which is a growing trend.

The new playground won’t be ready by September when kids return to school. But parent council organizers are optimistic something will be in place by the spring of 2018.

The council had already begun fundraising to replace the playground. There was $18,000 in the bank toward the estimated $60,000 cost, said parent council secretary Allison Larin.

Fundraising efforts are now picking up. An online crowdfunding campaign has raised $5,350, volunteers operated a lemonade stand at the school last weekend, and plans are being organized for an Aug. 9 spaghetti supper.

Larin said parents and children were shocked by the fire, which was apparently the work of vandals.

Schwartz, who lives nearby, said the community is coming together to raise money.

“It’s horrible for the kids and for the community to see something like this happen at their school.

“Anybody who would go and burn down a play structure, they are targeting kids. I’ve never heard of this before.” jmiller@postmedia.com twitter.com/JaquieAMiller