
Creating Inclusive Play spaces for Children with Physical Disabilities. Let’s Play is dedicated to ensuring that young children with physical disabilities have the same opportunities for play as their peers. A joint initiative of the Rick Hansen Foundation and the Province of British Columbia, Let’s Play offers grants for the creation of accessible public play spaces for children ages 0 - 6 in BC and builds awareness about accessible play and related best practices.
Why Accessible Play? All children need to play. It’s essential for their physical, social and emotional well being. Through play, they learn about themselves and their world, and lay the foundation for a healthy, happy future.
Accessible play spaces are inclusive – they welcome children of all abilities to play together. These spaces ensure that children with disabilities don’t miss out on important opportunities for social interaction and physical activity. They also allow parents and caregivers with physical disabilities to be nearby and play with their children.
About Let’s Play Grants Let's Play grants are available to qualified community groups for accessible play space projects involving new construction, renovation of an existing space, and/or the purchase of equipment. Our goal is to apply the available funds to as many play space projects as possible. The deadline has now passed to submit an application for the second of Let's Play's two funding cycles. We can no longer accept additional applications or supplementary application documents. If you submitted an application to Let's Play, please note the following timeline for grant applications: | Notification of funding results: | All applicants received notification on May 4, 2009, of the status of their application. See list below of accessible playspace projects that have been granted funding. | | Cheques issued: | Beginning in May or early June 2009 upon signature of grant agreements | | Deadline for completion of project: | February 15, 2010
| LET'S PLAY 2nd FUNDING CYCLE GRANT RECIPIENTS Play Space Location | Community | | Cultus Lake Community School | Cultus Lake | | Windsor Park | Victoria | | Holly Elementary | Surrey | | C'imo'ca Childcare Centre | Kitimat | | Nootka Elementary | Vancouver | | Shirley Macey Park | Gibsons | | Kinnette Park | Burns Lake | | Carnarvon Elementary | Vancouver | | Twain-Sullivan Elementary | Houston | | Redwood Park | Surrey | | McBride Park | McBride | | Knee-waas House | Port Alberni | | Cape Horn Elementary | Coquitlam | | Centennial Park | Langford | | King's Christian Centre | Salmon Arm | | Garden Park | Kimberley | | Dormick Park Elementary | Abbostsford | | Southlands Elementary | Vancouver | | Nukko Lake Elementary | Prince George | | Ecole Dorothy Lynas Elementary | North Vancouver | | The Orca Bus | Powell River | | Maywood Community School | Burnaby | | Middle Arm Greenway Trail | Richmond | | Kitsilano Beach Playground | Vancouver | | Celebration Plaza | Whistler | “Engaging in the Let's Play project has been a great learning experience. It gave us the incentive to reach out to parents of children with disabilities, and find out more about making play spaces more enjoyable, beneficial and inclusive for all children. It has also generated a lot of dialogue and interest. Volunteer groups, including the North Shore Advisory Committee on Disability Issues, are excited about lending a helping hand.” Carolyn Girard Park Planner, District of North Vancouver For more information please contact:
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or by phone: 604 707-2106
Let’s Play links directly with the Rick Hansen Foundation’s Schools In Motion and Wheels In Motion programs to make a difference in communities throughout British Columbia. The Rick Hansen Schools In Motion program was developed to celebrate the spirit of the Rick Hansen Man In Motion World Tour and provide students with the understanding that they can play a role in improving access and inclusion in the world around them.
Let’s Play was made possible with the support of the Province of British Columbia and its $2.5 million investment. Accessible play spaces complement ActNow BC, the Province's health and wellness initiative that promotes healthy living choices to improve the quality of life for all British Columbians. ActNow BC aims to encourage all B.C. kids to increase their physical activity levels. ActNow BC: every move is a good move.
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