‘Best way forward’: Saskatoon mom pushes to adapt playground so kids in wheelchairs can play

WATCH: A mother’s love is inspiring a north end Saskatoon community to make the playground accessible for children who use wheelchairs.

A mother’s love is inspiring a community in a north end Saskatoon neighbourhood with a playground project that it hopes will allow every child to play.

Kindergarten student Makenna Hiebert should be able to join her classmates on the playground during recess, but right now, she can only watch from the sidelines.

“This playground is not served to equip members of the community or the school who have disabilities, specifically in a wheelchair. It’s surrounded by sand. The structure is not accessible and we’re trying to change that,” Makenna’s mom, Brittany Hiebert, told CTV News.

Two years ago, a tragic accident left Makenna with a brain injury and using a wheelchair.

“Accessibility was never on our mind up until it suddenly hits you. So that’s where this passion has come from,” she said.

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Now, this mom is on a mission to ensure all kids at the school and surrounding community can enjoy recess on an accessible play structure - working with the St. Anne School Community Council.

“We’re trying to raise $273,000 for phase one of a wheelchair-accessible playground, so that our community and our school can be a welcoming and inclusive place.”

The school’s principal, Kris Hanson, who has been in education for 20 years, says this new playground will be an addition to the existing one, which was built in 2007.

He admits it’s in good shape but does not take into account that there are varying abilities that need adapted structures.

“This is our best way forward because it will allow Makenna to build her social relationships. All students will enjoy the new playground and will have that chance for her to be with her peers,” he said.

According to the principal, this will be the only accessible playground north of 33rd Street and will serve many neighbourhoods during the school year and also the summer months.

“We are so thankful to our Catholic school community council and to Brittany, as one of the members of that council, for undertaking this project.”

Views on accessibility have changed a lot over the years. Hiebert says she takes Makenna to a newer park in the Brighton neighbourhood because it has sensory play elements, ramps and a rubberized base, making it wheelchair accessible.

“Accessibility can reach actually much broader than just a person in a wheelchair as well. I think that the community and society as a whole is becoming more aware of that, but there’s still lots of limitations out there,” she said.

The St. Anne community group has held many fundraisers and received some corporate support since they started the effort. They also applied for a provincial playground grant, which has a strict timeline to use the money, so the pressure is on to get more support. Currently, they are only halfway to their goal. They are still hoping more businesses and individuals come forward so kids like Makenna can have a new place to play soon.

If all falls into place, they hope to break ground on the new structure in the spring and work through the summer.