In Wednesday’s paper, we had a story about some dedicated parents at Woodward elementary, desperately trying to save their school. Woodward is on the list of 16 schools the Richmond school district is considering closing by September 2017.
In today’s paper, we learn about another dedicated bunch from another possibly doomed elementary (Bridge) making their pitch to the school board.
Next week, I’m sure we’ll see more parents from more schools pleading their case.
A common refrain in these pleas is the fact the school is a community hub. The Woodward parents talked about the walking path and playground that are used by many in the neighbourhood beyond the students — much like Rideau Park playgound.
Rideau elementary was closed in 2003, but the playground remained a gathering place for over a decade. However, time took its toll and with no school PAC to help raise funds to maintain it, and a district fearing liability, in September it was largely dismantalled. Letters were written, petitions signed and meetings held, but the site now stands rather desolate.
It’s not surprising the school district doesn’t want to invest in a playground of a closed school. (Although it continues to be used for continuing education.) The city says there’s little it can do as it doesn’t own the land. It may consider buying the land, or building a playground on nearby property it does own, but currently that’s not in the budget.
While both sound reasonable, what should not be lost sight of is the fact this is public land. And it can only stay that way if the city and school district don’t get into a squable as they did with the Steveston secondary site sell off. In that case, the district put the land up for sale with the condition it be sold to a public entity. At the time, it was recognized land prices were soaring and if the property left the public trust, it would be gone for good; governments and non-profit groups can’t compete with land speculators.
The city claimed it wanted the land, but the two got into a battle over the total cost. After a protracted stalemate, the district eventually sold the land to a private developer, and now we have another shiny new complex of 133 luxury townhouses. Granted, the school district got a pretty penny and the city negotiated a few public perks, such as a daycare and a couple of walking paths in exchange for rezoning.
But, really, that’s a drop in the bucket given the amount of land that was there.
The point here is not to rehash old feuds, rather it’s to take heed as we move forward.
Closing five schools will leave a lot of public land and abandoned playgrounds to fight over. Rideau Park and Steveston are not examples we want to follow.
Eve Edmonds is the editor of the Richmond News. She can be reached at [email protected]
