Hopefully our project paints a passionate picture as to who we are and where we currently stand. We see The Playground Legends Project as a prologue to a great future and want to fulfill some undeniably ambitious goals! We continue to build capacity and fundraising from clothing sales . Other merchandise (currently in production) will also be used to fulfill the following goals:
GOAL #1
Playground Legends Leaders walk around school and during recess promoting our school wide tournaments and teaching our tournament sports. We would love to reward these volunteers with a brightly coloured hoodies to wear as uniforms as they fulfill their responsibilities (which also include serving as referees during tournament play)!
GOAL #2
In a perfect world every community light post would have a sports equipment box filled with a variety of balls, etc. which would allow children an opportunity for play wherever they roam! Keys would be printed en masse and distributed to community members. Can’t envision it? Click here: tiny.cc/brazilbox
Sadly, a perfect world such as this does not yet exist. As well, the aforementioned light post box idea might be limiting in terms of size. Instead, we would like to raise money for a variety of novel sports equipment and a sizeable portable equipment cage that can be wheeled out by Playground Legends leaders every recess. A cage of this magnitude would also contain laminated quick play game cards that scaffold popular pick up sports game rules and would dovetail with what is taught to children at school and through the project. Playground Legend Leaders would become caretakers of the cage and would run workshops to build further capacity! The equipment cage would become a mainstay for recess enjoyment.
The cage could be anchored outside at times and provide around the clock access to equipment! It could promote purposeful play after school hours and on weekends. Neighbourhood information sessions and fundraisers could then be held. Cage keys would be printed and distributed providing our school community with a playground equipment "library". The honour system would be involved in equipment return. If placed in a conspicuous area that is well lit and monitored, there is less likelihood for the system to be taken advantage of. Costs associated with the project include cage purchase, pamphlet and resource cards printing, equipment purchase and maintenance.
Sadly, a perfect world such as this does not yet exist. As well, the aforementioned light post box idea might be limiting in terms of size. Instead, we would like to raise money for a variety of novel sports equipment and a sizeable portable equipment cage that can be wheeled out by Playground Legends leaders every recess. A cage of this magnitude would also contain laminated quick play game cards that scaffold popular pick up sports game rules and would dovetail with what is taught to children at school and through the project. Playground Legend Leaders would become caretakers of the cage and would run workshops to build further capacity! The equipment cage would become a mainstay for recess enjoyment.
The cage could be anchored outside at times and provide around the clock access to equipment! It could promote purposeful play after school hours and on weekends. Neighbourhood information sessions and fundraisers could then be held. Cage keys would be printed and distributed providing our school community with a playground equipment "library". The honour system would be involved in equipment return. If placed in a conspicuous area that is well lit and monitored, there is less likelihood for the system to be taken advantage of. Costs associated with the project include cage purchase, pamphlet and resource cards printing, equipment purchase and maintenance.
GOAL #3
We would eventually like to see the aforementioned cage replaced with a permanent shed! The shed has a great potential to showcase sponsor logos and promote equipment donations. Costs associated with the project include shed creation and key printing.
GOAL #4
We would love to develop formal lesson plans expressing how the provincial physical/health and literacy education expectations can be met through The Playground Legends Project and accompanying equipment shed. These formal lesson plans can be studied longitudinally and hopefully seeded within Toronto and Greater Toronto Area schools. An action research project can be established alongside a university or Teacher's college such as OISE to assist with objectively measuring gains.
GOAL #5
Over the years, project participants have expressed frustration with how playground space is organized and developed. Alternatives have been proposed and collected. Together, we have co-designed a novel, multipurpose, playground space with an accompanying super structure that can complement school and/or community sports equipment sheds. This "stadium" design calls to mind “The Wall of Dreams” (tiny.cc/thewall) and other successful pick up sports projects such as “Little Fenway Park” (tiny.cc/lilfenway) and "Little Cubs Field" (tiny.cc/lilcubs) which have sustained a legacy in holding charitable tournaments and visits by professional athletes and teams further adding to the visibility of this project. This "universal" design is one we truly believe in and feel strongly ought to become a mainstay world wide! Early research into material and labor cost has shown that this type of multi-use design is not particularly expensive and can include corporate sponsorship too. We are realistic and realize that this particular project might require work outside of the school jurisdiction. Only once its benefits have been studied longitudinally might it catch on. Thus, I am aiming to start a registered charity and raise funds personally to see this goal come to fruition.
Costs associated with this goal include the expertise of a playground architect, travel to champion/unpack this concept to city councillors, redirection of public funds towards the necessary building materials and labour, signage and display cases. Our detailed design mock up is available upon request. Can you imagine the turnout? vimeo.com/10711639
Costs associated with this goal include the expertise of a playground architect, travel to champion/unpack this concept to city councillors, redirection of public funds towards the necessary building materials and labour, signage and display cases. Our detailed design mock up is available upon request. Can you imagine the turnout? vimeo.com/10711639