Winnipeg Councillor Advocates for Funding New School Play Structures

A Winnipeg councillor is calling for a collaborative approach among the province, municipalities, and school divisions to address the urgent need for new and replacement school play structures. Councillor Brian Mayes from St. Vital outlined these concerns in a report released on November 1, 2023, following ten days of consultations with parents, school administrators, trustees, and government officials.

Currently, the Manitoba government does not allocate funding for play structures when new schools are constructed. This gap leaves many school divisions struggling to maintain or replace aging play equipment. According to Mayes’s findings, most schools do not replace structures that have exceeded their useful lifespan. Instead, they often rely on parent advisory councils to fundraise for new playgrounds, leading to a situation where essential facilities become reliant on bake sales and similar efforts.

“The problem persists that we’re asking parents to raise money for things that shouldn’t be the subject of bake sales,” Mayes stated in an interview. He emphasized the need for a more structured funding plan to support the construction and maintenance of play structures, particularly in new kindergarten to Grade 5 schools.

One of Mayes’s key recommendations is for the province to allocate one per cent of the construction budget for play structures in all new educational facilities. He cited the example of the recently built Bison Run in Waverley West and École Sage Creek Bonavista as schools that should include proper play facilities as part of their infrastructure.

Mayes expressed disbelief that play structures have not been a standard inclusion in new school projects, particularly when referring to the estimated construction cost of $63 million for the Sage Creek school. “It just seems self-evident that if you’re building a $63-million school, include a play structure,” he remarked.

A standardized approach is needed, according to Mayes. His report suggests that parent advisory councils should have access to a playbook that identifies grant programs and potential playground suppliers. He pointed to a successful funding model in Saskatchewan where the province allocates $3.75 million annually for new play structures and repairs, offering grants of up to $50,000.

Mayes also proposed that Manitoba’s school divisions set aside funds for upgrades and encouraged the City of Winnipeg to adopt a model similar to that of Brandon, where the local school division and the city each contribute $50,000 annually for play structure renewals. The Winnipeg School Division has already implemented a policy against door-to-door fundraising for building upgrades and commits to three annual playground upgrades funded by the division.

He concluded, “Copy what Saskatchewan is doing, copy some of what Winnipeg School Division is doing, and I think we’ll get some of these things built.”

The need for improved play structures is particularly pressing at Springfield Heights School in North Kildonan, where the existing playground was closed in October 2025 due to safety concerns. Trevor Bartkiewicz, a volunteer on the school’s parent council, has been actively involved in fundraising for a new play structure. Recent efforts, including a doughnut fundraiser, raised $5,000, but this amount falls significantly short of the $250,000 goal set by the parent council.

“Any attention I think is good, but our main focus right now is we have 465 kids that don’t have access to what at the beginning of the year I assumed was just part of every school,” Bartkiewicz explained. He believes that Mayes’s report could greatly benefit schools in need of upgrades, especially since obtaining grant funding can be highly competitive.

“Even with these grants, we have to check in with [the division on] every decision we make and everything we want to do,” he added, acknowledging the challenges involved in the fundraising process. Bartkiewicz expressed appreciation for the support from stakeholders, including Education Minister Tracy Schmidt.

“It’s not an easy fix. There’s probably a lot of need within communities, within schools,” Bartkiewicz noted. “I think any additional funding would be greatly appreciated by the schools and families that are trying to get through this process.”

Minister Schmidt visited Springfield Heights alongside Mayes and is currently reviewing his report. “Hopefully, this has some influence on what the province is going to do going forward,” Mayes stated.

In April 2023, the provincial government announced commitments of $100,000 each for new outdoor play areas at Sansome School in Westwood and Bairdmore School in Richmond West. Schmidt highlighted the government’s recognition of the vital role playgrounds play in promoting children’s well-being and expressed openness to hearing ideas for improvement.

The ongoing discussions reflect a growing recognition of the need for a more systematic approach to funding school play structures, ensuring that students have access to safe and engaging outdoor environments.