For years, the playground at Sherwood Park Elementary served as a gathering place. Here, students built friendships, tested their limits, and burned off energy during recess. But as the equipment aged, that experience began to change.

Over time, sections of the playground became unusable. Broken components were removed and aging structures were increasingly restricted due to safety concerns. What remained no longer met the needs of the young community. For some children, particularly those using wheelchairs or other mobility aids, access to play was limited from the start.

Today, that has changed.

With support from the TSBC Community Grant Program, the Board of Education of School District No. 44 has completed a new inclusive playground at Sherwood Park Elementary. This project has created a welcoming space where children of all abilities can play, learn, and connect together.

Designed for Access, Inclusion, and Adventure

The completed play space features two large playground structures designed for children up to age 12. These new elements offer physical challenges that help develop strength, coordination, confidence, and creativity. The playground also includes two stand-alone accessible play features specifically designed to encourage participation by children with varying mobility and physical abilities.

A universally accessible merry-go-round allows children using wheelchairs and mobility aids to roll directly onto the platform while playing alongside their peers. Nearby, an inclusive rocker with supportive seating provides opportunities for children with limited strength and mobility to participate comfortably.

Additional features, including balance beams and stepping pods, help children develop motor skills while encouraging cooperative and imaginative play.

The new design removes obstacles through a level-access entrance and approximately 5,000 square feet of pour-in-place rubber surfacing that creates a smooth and durable play environment. The result is more than an accessible playground. It is a space intentionally designed to foster inclusion, independence, and belonging.

Related: Houston Playground Uses Over 1,800 Recycled Tires for Accessible Surface

Recycled BC Tires Helping Build Stronger Communities

The playground’s pour-in-place surface also demonstrates the value of tire recycling in British Columbia.

The project incorporates approximately 74,700 pounds of recycled BC tire rubber. This amount is equivalent to 4,404 recycled tires, transforming end-of-life tires into a durable, safe, and accessible community asset. By incorporating recycled tire products into public spaces, projects like this help extend the life of valuable materials while creating long-lasting benefits for local communities.

A playground for the entire community

Sherwood Park Elementary serves more than 370 students and a diverse community that includes families from the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, the Raven Woods neighbourhood, French Immersion students, and children attending on-site childcare and after-school programs.

As a public school playground, the new facility is also open outside school hours, extending its impact well beyond the classroom. The playground provides an important recreation destination for local families and fills a need for play equipment designed for older children, who are often underserved by traditional playgrounds.

For the students and families who use it, the new playground represents far more than upgraded equipment. It is a place where children of all abilities can challenge themselves, build friendships, and experience the joy of play together.

At Tire Stewardship BC, we are proud to support community projects that give recycled BC tires new life while creating safer, more inclusive places to live, learn, and play.