Toronto Playgrounds

	Schoolyard plan upsets parents Moira MacDonald, National Post, January 10, 2001 A resounding thumbs-down was given by parents last night to Toronto District School Board plans to "green" schoolyards whose play structures were razed last summer."We want playscapes -- we don't really want greenscapes but I don't see playground structures mentioned very much ... I see meadows, meadows, meadows," parent Richard Silver said to applause at a board-organized meeting at Central Technical School, which was attended by about 350 parents and school principals.
	Playground design price: $880,000 By: Kristin Rushowy, Jan. 9, 2001 Principal Donna LePan says the new playground at Hillcrest Community School may offer lessons for others. Trustees heatedly criticized a plan yesterday to spend nearly $1 million of the money set aside for new playgrounds on designers to create unique plans for each school. Several members of the playground steering committee said they thought the Toronto District School Board's money would be better spent on buying actual equipment.
	Bittersweet end to playground saga Jan. 6, 2001 It is heartening to see community groups, parents, local businesses and major corporations stepping forward with donations to help replace the school playground equipment that was torn down last summer. Even those who were most harshly critical of the Toronto District School Board for hastily ripping down slides, monkey bars and jungle gyms at hundreds of schools, are pitching in to rebuild the demolished playgrounds.
	School board finding donors value fun Alan Barnes, Jan. 4, 2001 Can fond memories of fun times in school playgrounds tug on the purse strings of former students? Yes, the Toronto District School Board is finding, as it launches a fundraising campaign to replace playground equipment that was torn down at more than 170 schools for safety reasons, sparking widespread controversy.
	Board releases playground plan October 5, 2000 The Toronto District School Board has come out with a plan for fundraising toward the rebuilding of playground equipment was taken out of more than 170 schools across the city...
	Board unveils plan to rebuild playgrounds By: Kristin Rushowy, November 11, 2000 Playgrounds at more than 110 elementary schools where most or all of the equipment was ripped out are first on a list to be rebuilt, likely starting next spring. But what replaces them won't necessarily be slides, swings and climbers, but landscaped yards with playhouses, gardens, terraces, amphitheatres, caves or trails, says a draft of the report that will go before the Toronto District School Board on Nov. 22, a copy of which was obtained by The Star.
	Finding funds focus of new playground report By Alison Taylor , October 15, 2000 Finding funds to replace ripped-out playground equipment is the focus of the Toronto District School Board's first progress report to parents on the issue. Finding funds to replace ripped-out playground equipment is the focus of the Toronto District School Board's first progress report to parents on the issue.
	Parents divided over playground funding By Amy Carmichael, Monday, October 9, 2000 Richard Silver was so upset over the recent loss of playground equipment at his children's North York school that he created an Internet site to solicit donations for all city schools suffering the same fate. But east-end Toronto parent, Pam Wilkinson, refuses to donate money for playground equipment at her children's school, viewing it as part of a good education that should be funded by government.
	In Site Insight October 5, 2000 One Toronto couple isn't playing around anymore when it comes to playgrounds. They've created their own website so that other parents and companies can contribute to the solution. Debbie and Richard Silver were devastated when they found out that their children's playground was demolished. "We were outraged, and we wanted something done," said Debbie. Instead of staying angry, they created a website that will help rebuild not only their playground, but 171 others in Toronto.
	Parents start up Web site to raise playground funds By: Kristin Rushowy, October 3, 2000 Playground equipment is gone at many Toronto elementary public schools. What comes next is figuring out how to replace it. A group of Toronto parents has made a start with a Web site to raise funds. Richard and Debbie Silver initially put up a Web site to raise money for Denlow Public School, which their children attend. The school, near Leslie St. and York Mills Rd., lost its entire playground after it was deemed unsafe under new, voluntary safety standards. Then, after talking to other parents, the couple realized many more were wondering how they could help.
	Missing equipment creates void at recess By Amy Carmichael, Tuesday, October 3, 2000 Jonathan Prince, a Grade 1 student at Ryerson Community School, used to spend his recess time burning up energy on playground equipment.But all that remains in the school yard for him to play with is one swing and two slides. The six-year-old now plays with a toy shovel that he uses to bury his backpack in the sand.
	City urged to raise taxes for playgrounds By James Rusk, Tuesday, October 3, 2000 The city of Toronto should consider raising taxes to help replace the playground equipment that the Toronto District School Board ripped out this summer, a board trustee says. "A dedicated tax levy . . . to assist with this" could be discussed after this fall's municipal and school board elections, trustee Irene Atkinson told a city committee yesterday.
	Board pledges funds to build new playgrounds By Louise Brown , September 28, 2000 The Toronto District School board has earmarked $3 million from surplus funds as a first step toward replacing torn down playgrounds. The move was proposed by Trustee Gail Nyberg as ``a show of good will as we seek other funds'' to replace equipment torn down as unsafe since June at more than 170 Toronto Schools.
	Playgrounds are nice, but what about music teachers? By: Michele Landsberg , September 23, 2000 HOW MANY ways can you spell ``fall guy''? Try ``TDSB,'' for one. Toronto District School Board, that is. Previously seven different boards, now crushed into one by the provincial government, stripped of cash, authority and even salaries (trustees now make an insulting yearly allowance of $5,000) and yet expected to be responsible for the education and well-being of 272,000 students.
	A playground blooms By: Kristin Rushowy, September 22, 2000 What was a dreary schoolyard full of cracked asphalt and dirt will this weekend be transformed into an amazing playground with towers, bridges, climbers, slides and a replica streetcar. Three years ago, parents at Hillcrest Community School decided they had to fix up the yard for students, as well as the children at the Hillcrest Community Centre, an on-site day-care centre, and the rest of the community.
	No funds for play gear: Ecker By: Caroline Mallan , September 21, 2000 Ontario's education minister says the Toronto District School Board should not look to the province for special funding to replace its playground equipment. Janet Ecker told reporters yesterday money for playground gear is included in grants given to each board across the province, and trustees and parents will have to live with the Toronto board's decision to rip out equipment in more than 170 schoolyards because of safety concerns.
	Councillors angry with school decision By James Rusk, Tuesday, September 19, 2000 A city council committee wants to meet the Toronto District School Board to discuss rebuilding playgrounds in the wake of the board's decision to demolish equipment in 172 school yards. The economic development and parks committee passed a motion yesterday asking board chairwoman Shelley Laskin to attend a special meeting to discuss the playground equipment issue.
	Board apologizes for playground chaos By: Kristin Rushowy, September 19, 2000 An angry group of parents last night looked for answers from their trustee and Toronto District School Board staff as to why their children's playgrounds were demolished. While they didn't seem satisfied with much of what they heard, they did get one thing many have waited for since the equipment was taken out of more than 170 schools across the city: an apology.
	City may pass buck on playground bill By James Rusk, Monday, September 18, 2000 A city council committee wants to meet the Toronto District School Board to discuss rebuilding playgrounds in the wake of the board's decision to demolish equipment in 172 school yards. The economic development and parks committee passed a motion yesterday asking board chairwoman Shelley Laskin to attend a special meeting to discuss the playground equipment issue.
	Playground hazards and legal minefields September 13, 2000 Playground hazards and legal minefields Guy Gavriel Kay National Post I was watching Jaws this weekend, with my nine-year-old. Steven Spielberg's breakthrough film of 25 years ago is still a visceral (so to speak) thriller, but other events on the same weekend revealed just how...
	Destruction in the name of salvation September 12, 2000 Destruction in the name of salvation Joe Fiorito, City columnist National Post Kid went to school the other day with copy of latest Harry Potter in his backpack. Kid was early for a change. Stopped in playground, leaned against monkey bars, pulled out book. Kid was planning to get ..
	Monkey-bar madness September 11, 2000 Monkey-bar madness Andrew Coyne National Post There is a kind of grandeur in the Toronto school board's recent bulldozing of half the city's playgrounds. The board's decision, taken this summer and put into force before parents or principals were even aware it was under considerat ...
	Back-to-school folly: When playgrounds are outlawed, kids will play more dangerously, like the natural outlaws they are. By Leah McLaren, Saturday, September 9, 2000 It's the first day of the school year at Charles G. Fraser Collegiate, a junior school in downtown Toronto. Groups of children in rumpled new clothes loiter on the blasted heath of what used to be their playground. They sit on concrete steps and benches sniffing their erasers and staring at the ground. The monkey bars are gone, along with the slide and the jungle gym. Nothing is left but a small-scale version of the Athabasca tar sands.
	Schoolyard safety debate rages as neighbourhoods mourn loss - Sunday Special Alena Gedeonova, September 10, 2000 The slides, climbers and swings removed from Toronto's schoolyards have proved to be more than child's play. The Toronto District School Board, which has struggled its way through amalgamation, massive underfunding, even school closings, is muddling through a most unexpected controversy: playground safety.
	Inspector stands firm on playground demolitions. By Sean Fine, Friday, September 8, 2000 Says those in position of responsibility turned blind eye to danger Strangulation hazards, potential falls from as high as 5.4 metres, and cover for the ''criminal element'' were among the serious design flaws of outdoor playgrounds, says the inspector behind this summer's controversial equipment demolitions in 172 elementary school yards.
	The essence of play By Charles F. Marker, Friday, September 8, 2000 Obviously someone was precipitous and unthoughtful in ripping out school playground equipment this summer. Let's hope replacing it with other equipment is not done so precipitously.I am cheered by the happy sounds and pleasant sights of the tykes across the street from me at a Catholic elementary school that has almost no equipment. Perhaps the essence of children's playtime is not playground equipment, as your correspondent would have it, but something else: Social relations? Children's play? A break from the classroom? Space to run? Maybe my neighbourhood school has something to teach other schools and parents.
	School-board trustees didn't see report on alternative to playground demolition By Sean Fine, Thursday, September 7, 2000 School-board staff rejected a proposal that might have saved some of the city's demolished playgrounds, and millions of dollars in replacement or repair costs.Playscapes Inc. Audit £ Consulting Services told the Toronto District School Board that trying to bring existing playgrounds up to new national standards was too expensive and unnecessary.
	Demolition leaves barren wasteland September 7, 2000 Demolition leaves barren wasteland No warning: Principal wants to know when new equipment coming Peter Kuitenbrouwer National PostArne Glassbourg, National Post Seven-year-old Celeste Ganon runs around an empty sandlot at Ossington/Old Orchard Public School. Parents are strugglin ...
	Child's play By Lloyd Nesbitt, Thursday, September 7, 2000 Mike Harris should start going around to every public school to look the young children in the eye and explain to them why their playground was taken away. In the meantime, state-of-the-art playgrounds should be going up just as quickly as they were taken away. It's bad enough that the children's future education has been compromised by the Harris government, but to remove the essence of every young child's playtime at school is unconscionable.
	Child's play By Clement Kent, Thursday, September 7, 2000 My daughter returned to a playground that had been razed, and 32 classmates in a split Grade 4/5. Ontario Premier Mike Harris promised class sizes of 24 (news -- Sept. 5); perhaps he should go back to school for some remedial math. We'll put him in the same classroom as our school board members -- and not let them out for recess until they agree to swing a few slides for the kids.
	Board didn't see report on safety of playgrounds By Sean Fine, Wednesday, September 6, 2000 Only four of 172 schools were promised aid to rebuild demolished equipment Elected officials who spent $700,000 to demolish millions of dollars worth of playground equipment in 172 elementary school yards this summer had not seen the reports from a private inspection firm that triggered the demolitions.
	Playground demolition stuns safety watchdog Board's action called `a waste of taxpayers' money' `I'm still troubled by those who question this from a safety perspective. I'm putting all my energy toward a solution.' - School board chair Shelley Laskin Toronto public school playgrounds should not have been bulldozed this summer because they posed no threat to children's safety, says the head of the committee that set new national standards for play equipment. In an exclusive interview with The Star, Mike Jones - who also worked for the Toronto board designing playgrounds - said he can't believe thousands of children are left with little more than rubble as they return to school today when the board knew the standards were meant for new equipment only. Full story
	Girls hold raffle to raise cash for playground By Sean Fine, Wednesday, September 6, 2000 Two little girls who took $30 to the office at Toronto's Clinton Junior Public School yesterday may be the beginning of an enormous fundraising drive to replace demolished playgrounds.
	Guidelines used to raze playgrounds were wrongly applied September 6, 2000 Guidelines used to raze playgrounds were wrongly applied New safety rules not aimed at existing equipment Peter Kuitenbrouwer National Post In her morning announcement over the public address on the first day of school yesterday, Helen Vernon, principal of Orde Street Junior Public ...
	Trustee candidacies empty as a playground By John Barber, Wednesday, September 6, 2000 If you want to know the real reason why your children safely threw rocks at each other during the school year's first recess yesterday -- rather than hazardously swinging from now-vanished monkey bars -- consider the fate of a certain aspiring school trustee of my acquaintance, who shall remain nameless (and thus owe me a limitless supply of drinks during coming fact-finding missions).
	Children return to flattened school yards By Sean Fine, Monday, September 4, 2000 Parents say boards demolishing playgrounds because of worries about liability, not safety. It was a military-style operation that occurred in Toronto school yards this summer.One day mysterious symbols in orange spray paint would appear on the playground equipment -- the marks of condemnation from an unseen hand. A few days later a demolition crew would turn up, and in a matter of hours the slides and monkey bars and assorted climbing toys would be uprooted and carted off.
	Playground News Release 9/1/00 6:55:39 PM GMT Abstract: NEWS RELEASE TDSB Removes Playground Equipment to Keep Kids Safe Toronto, Ontario - July 18, 2000- Following a comprehensive review to determine the safety of playground equipment on school property, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has removed equipment deemed a hazard to children. Complian...
	Playground Inspections and Equipment Removal 8/16/00 12:20:37 AM GMT Abstract: Playground Inspections and Equipment Removal Background Information In September 1999, the Ministry of Community and Social Services revised its licensing requirements to mandate all playground equipment used for child care centres to comply with Canadian Standards Association (CSA) standard CAN/CSA
	News Release 8/31/00 3:10:27 PM GMT Abstract: News Releases
	News Release 8/31/00 3:10:25 PM GMT Abstract: News Releases
	More playgrounds in peril By Kristin Rushowy Toronto Star Education Reporter July 11, 2000 Nearly half at Toronto public schools to be razed