chool playground lost to

FRUSTRATED Burrard View Community
School children and parents, currently
awaiting government approval for construe-
tion of a new Deep Cove school to replace
aging and ‘‘inadequate’’ facilities at Burrard
View, absorbed another blow Wednesday
when the school lost a playground to high-
way construction,

The Deep Cove Road upgrade is part of a highways
minisiry program to overhaul and expand a 7.6 km
section of roadway from McCartney Creek to Deep
Cove.

According to Burrard View principal Lois Hosein, a
portion of the playground sat on provincially-ownea
land.

Said Hosein, ‘‘This whole proposition has been in
the works for some time, but it's been devastating to
parents that the small amount of playground we have
is being reduced. It’s part of che bigger picture of this
whole business of trying to get. a new school."*

The lost play area, which included a boat, several
concrete tubes, a tire swing and a jungle gym. had been
primarily used by about 50 young children.

Added Hosein, At this point it’s rather discourig-
ing. We don't have clear permission to vo ahead and
Huild the new school. This building is very difficult to
operate in. The access and the traffic is very danger-
ous, And here we are with less playground than we had
before. It's very discouraging, it's very upsetting and

NEWS photo Tory Poros | E
BURRARD VIEW Community School principal Lois Hosein points to the playground where equipment was removed Wednesday in
preparation for road expansion work along Deep Cove Road. The loss of the playground has angered parents of children going to the school.

road upgrade

the parents are getting quite upset and | don’t blame
them.”

Deep Cove parent Elaine Burak sends her two sons
to the school. She’s been frustrated by the delays in a
construction start on Cove Clff Elementary School,

The loss of the Burrard View playground added in-
suit to injury.

The school,’ she said, ‘tis so inadequate as far as
play space is concerned, And then to have a whole area
wiped out? And then there’s the safety issue. With the
road expansion, the traffic there will be absurd. This
doesn't give me great confidence in sending my
children there every morning. And where else can 1
send them? They won't take then at Dorothy Lynas or
Sherwood. They're already full."*

See Parents
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