Efforts towards building a natural learning space in North Battleford ramped up Tuesday night last week with an announcement of potential funding.
The Battlefords Early Childhood Intervention Program, who have been spearheading the idea, confirmed at city council Tuesday that they would provide matching funding of up to $50,000 for the project.
Colleen Sabraw, who appeared with a delegation from BECIP at the meeting, told council the project needed the approval of a budget commitment of another $50,000 from the city to go ahead.
Proponents also want to see the city co-lead on the project and provide city staff to assist where needed.
The natural learning space proposal had first been before council back in June. The idea is to have a playground that includes natural elements such as rocks, logs, trees and other items.
The idea is that natural spaces benefits kids in supporting their development and cognitive skills, and in connecting them to the environment. It would also allow them to develop their physical skills as well.
It is part of what Sabraw says is a shift in thinking when it comes to spaces for childhood development around the world.
“It’s time for our children to again grow up getting a little bit dirtier, getting a lot happier and a lot healthier being outdoors in some of these natural play spaces,” said Sabraw.
While their original proposal had identified Central Park as a suitable location, the thinking now is such a project would go in Centennial Park, where there is already money earmarked towards potential upgrades there.
The next step in the process, according to Mayor Ryan Bater, is to consider the proposal fully during budget deliberations.
Those deliberations get under way at the end of the month. Decisions will be made at that time on whether this project will move ahead this coming year.
So far, council has been receptive to the proposal, and Bater acknowledged the offer of a $50,000 matching grant from BECIP was a big deal when it came to considering the city’s own investment.
“To have the opportunity to match that with an external grant is definitely something that we want to consider,” said Bater.
