In response to feedback from the 2021-22 Family Survey, a Yard Improvement Committee was formed in Spring 2022 to plan and raise money to improve the Kimberley-Beaches school yard. The committee has some big goals and they need your help! If you would like to volunteer and attend the committee meetings, please email kimberleyjpscouncil@gmail.com.
Overview of the yard improvement project, thus far:
- After calls for volunteers to be on the Yard Improvement Committee, several brainstorm meetings were held in spring of 2022 to put together a preliminary wish list of yard improvements.
- A Kimberley parent volunteer, who also is a landscape architect, developed a plan for the yard that incorporated the wish list items with a view to making it a functional and attractive community hub.
- View the Playground Concept Presentation.
- This plan included cost estimates to complete all the proposed work (estimates to be verified by contractor as supply chain issues can impact costs).
- A pared down, initial wish list of improvements was sent to TDSB to initiate discussions.
- In June 2022 TDSB requested a meeting with Principal Bismilla and the committee to review the wish list.
- At the meeting the more fulsome plan was presented to the TDSB, and TDSB explained their process for yard improvements.
- A subsequent site visit from TDSB facilities took place at Kimberley at the end of June 2022
- The Yard Committee, in consultation with Kimberley administration and the 2021-22 school council, may elect to do the improvements in three phases to provide more time to fundraise.
- Phase one will include improvements such as new basketball hoops, a multi-basketball hoop, garden beds, privacy screening along the Main Street fence, an asphalt track and sod in the middle of the track.
- We need more volunteers to fundraise, and coordinate sponsorships and grants.