A new 77-space child-care facility opened in September in the Bridgeport neighbourhood and an official celebration was held this past Tuesday.
River Run Early Care and Learning Centre, at 10277 River Dr., has a total of 11,500 square-feet of space – 6,500 square-feet indoors and 5,000 square-feet outdoors – to accommodate a broad range of children, from infants up to 12-year-olds.
The facility is the 10th city-owned child-care facility, which now brings Richmond’s total number of licensed child-care spaces to 384, according to a city release.
River Run is operated by Atira Women’s Resources Society, which received a Childcare BC New Spaces grant from the province that was used towards furniture and equipment costs for the facility.
Mayor Malcolm Brodie said in the release the city is pleased to have a new child-care facility open to provide “quality child care” in the Bridgeport neighbourhood.
“The city is committed to being an active partner with senior governments, parents, the private sector and non-profit agencies to develop and maintain a comprehensive child-care system in Richmond,” said Brodie.
In the next two years, the City of Richmond plans to add approximately 200 more licensed child-care spaces as an additional child-care facility and two early childhood development hubs have been secured through rezoning processes.
River Run was built as part of the Northview Estates development and the city took ownership of it last June.
