The RCES Playground Enhancement Project will directly benefit approximately 300 students annually and is expected to serve more than 1,000 children and youth aged 0–16, along with their families and caregivers, each year, based on BC's 2030 population projections for Electoral Trustee Area 3 (SD46), which includes Roberts Creek and surrounding areas. New play features, an outdoor classroom, seating, and shade trees will expand the site's capacity and increase opportunities for recreation, learning, and community gathering.

The Project addresses a demonstrated community need for accessible, inclusive, and engaging outdoor spaces. Existing play opportunities in Roberts Creek are limited, and community consultations conducted in March 2025 with students, families, educators, and design professionals identified strong support for more nature-based play, outdoor learning opportunities, shade, and accessible gathering areas. Ongoing discussions with Principal Duncan Knight have also confirmed strong support from school staff and educators. The project will create new opportunities for physical activity, imaginative play, outdoor education, and social connection while expanding the range of experiences available to children of different ages and abilities.

Great question - you are with us in recognizing the importance of our field safety and community sports programs. We are conceptualizing a walking/running track around the existing field, and there are future field repairs planned. 

The field repair is a priority of the Play Gather Grow project, however, it falls within a greater initiative of SD46. We are advocating for our field to be their next big project. 

You can help by writing to:

questions@sd46.bc.ca

Subject Line: ATTN: RCES FIELD REPAIR

It's not actually about the Playground! Think broader school grounds Improvements. Although the Playground was updated in 2020, the expansive grounds and ongoing projects offer a wonderful canvas to create an environment that truly reflects the creative, nature-based upbringing the children of the Coast pride themselves on.

Risky play is an evidence-based approach to play that supports unstructured, outdoor, nature-based, and age-appropriate play. Risky play has been shown to promote children's physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. This approach is strongly supported by the Canadian Pediatric Society. The school grounds concept plan has been inspired by the evidence on risky play, and key elements such as the Loose Parts Library, have been intentionally designed to promote nature-based, creative, and risky play on the school grounds.

To Learn More About Risky Play:

• UBC's Outside Play Lab

• Canadian Pediatric Society - Healthy childhood development through outdoor risky play: Navigating the balance with injury prevention

• Sick Kids - The Importance of Risk Plan for Childhood Development

Yes! In March 2025, we held a community Ideation session where students, parents, and community members came up with amazing ideas of how they would like to see the space change.

Have further suggestions/comments?

Email: rccespac@gmail.com

ATTN: Play Gather Grow

There will also be ongoing public meetings to further brainstorm and Implement the Play, Gather, & Grow project.

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