There are many questions surrounding the whole issue of the Toronto School playgrounds. We will try to answer some questions related to the fund raising effort.
 
  Is my donation eligible for a tax receipt?  
Yes, all donations over $10 will receive a charitable donation tax receipt for income tax deduction. Please make sure the donation form is clearly filled in with your name and address.
 
Who issues the tax receipt?
Tax receipts will be issued by the Toronto District School Board.
 
Can my donation be directed at a specific school's playground?
Yes, on the donation form you can choose either all schools, or select a particular school. The TDSB has assured us that donations will be held in trust in specific accounts for each and every school playground.
 
How can I be sure the money will go towards the playgrounds?
The TDSB, Toronto District School Board, has assured us that all funds raised through TorontoPlaygrounds.com will be deposited in special "playground" accounts that have been set up for each and every affected school.
 
Can I send my cheque directly to my local school?
Your cheque should be sent to the main TDSB office noted on the donation form. The TDSB is set up to process donations and issue tax receipts. They will deposit donations in specific accounts set up for each and every school playground, and progress reports will be provided to all school principals. Cheques sent to local schools will simply be forwarded to the TDSB for processing. The donation form should accompany all cheques.
   
Can I make a donation by Visa?
The board will accept Visa donations, however Visa charges a fee on each donation. Visa donations can be made by calling the TDSB at (416) 393-8054.
 
How much needs to be raised?
The reported total is 27.5 million, which is $157,000 per playground. The cost of a new playground however can range between $40,000 and $100,000. Some playgrounds have to be smaller due to space limitations, and some schools have more students than others and may require larger playscapes. Finally, not all playgrounds were completely removed, so the amount needed for each affected school varies.
 
Will the School board help fund rebuilding the playgrounds
The TDSB recently pledged $3 million toward rebuilding and retrofitting affected schools. The board has earmarked $3 million from anticipated surplus budget funds. The recent report suggests that $18,000 will be alloted to each school.
   
Will parents and children be able to participate and provide their input in the design of the new playgrounds?
Yes. The TDSB plans to send design architects to every school to consult with parents and school staff on creating playscapes and playground areas that are best suited to each school's needs. All ideas, especially those of children, will be welcomed.
 
Have any playgrounds received funding or been rebuilt?

Only a few playgrounds have received funding. There are apparently 4 schools that received some money from the school board. The schools are Sir Adam Beck, Swansea, Maryvale and Norway.

City council (different budget) apparently approved spending $100,000 to rebuild playgrounds at four schools and authorized city staff to go ahead with two other projects before the end of the year.

Some playgrounds are shared with daycare centers located within the schools. Daycare centers can apply for city funding. That's how (along with additional local fundraising) Forest Hill Public School got a new playground built.

Hillcrest Community School has just rebuilt their playground though a large community fundraising effort. Some money was also apparently provided by the City of Toronto and the board.
 
How else can I help?
Get involved. Spread the word.
   
  Have a question?