Thanks to generous donations, grant money, and community dedication, Springwood Elementary School in Parksville now has two playgrounds for the community to enjoy. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Jordan Davidson

inclusive playground

Long-awaited second playground opens at Parksville’s Springwood Elementary

Dec 17, 2025 | 4:12 PM

PARKSVILLE — The number of playing options for Parksville kids has increased.

A ribbon was cut to mark the official opening of the new playground equipment at Springwood Elementary on Despard Ave. on Wednesday, Dec. 17, following years of fundraising and advocacy from parents and the students themselves.

Director of operations at the Qualicum School District Phil Munro said a lack of play space and equipment for their students has been an issue for a while now.

“The school transitioned from a middle school to an elementary school in 2014, and there hasn’t really been enough play equipment for elementary school kids.”

With only one playground before this, the around 500 kindergarten to grade seven students had to split the playground’s use, alternating days between younger and older students.

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The project was funded through a provincial grant of $200,000 from the Playground Equipment Program, and $80,000 was raised by the Parents Advisory Council (PAC) and generous community members, including the Rotary Club of Parksville and the Tire Stewardship of B.C. (TSBC)

Excited Springwood Elementary students waiting for the ribbon to be cut to get a chance to play on their new equipment. (Submitted)

Munro said construction started in mid-September with the provincial money awarded in the spring, with the $200,000 allowing them to imagine a larger playground.

However, he said it’s the dedication of their PAC which brought this project to fruition, with the students having a say on the overall design.

“We worked with the PAC…and they put out surveys to all the kids in the classrooms, and got them to choose their different apparatus and what they wanted to see, so they had direct influence over the colour of it, and also which pieces they got.”

Compact woodchips are placed on one side of the playground, with a hard rubber surface on the other side, providing wheelchair access and specialized equipment inclusive to all.

Munro said with their sports fields nearby, this new playground will also get plenty of use from the wider community.

“I’m up here with my sons’ baseball in the summer, and we have baseball tournaments up here, and the kids have a lack of things to do. It’s really going to help some of the siblings who aren’t playing baseball, that are around here for tennis and baseball.”

This part of the playground surface is made from recycled tires, provided by the TSBC, a first for schools in the Qualicum District. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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