Starland Community Playground
Glen Falls School is a designated community School with 11 PALS partners who assist with special projects and programming both in and outside of the school. As a community school we are often open after the normal hours of instruction to provide events and recreation to the greater Glen Falls Community.
The school yard in which the children play in each day is next to one of the busiest 4 lane roads in Saint John, Rothesay Avenue, with constant traffic. We currently have 150 students attending our K-5 school. We have many partners which help us every day at the school to help meet the basic needs of the children. Most of the community we serve consist of intact traditional families, and some lone parent families. Our community is hard working and about half fall below the poverty line. We as a school and with this project envision creating a fun and safe green space which our families can come to and enjoy together at no cost to them. There are currently no recreational parks or playgrounds in the Glen Falls area.
The entire 3 phases of the project will create a park like atmosphere including picnic tables and park benches, natural green spaces, a learning garden and new playground equipment for the greater Glen Falls community to enjoy. All stakeholders have been involved with the vision of the project since it’s onset about 8 years ago. Stakeholders include: School District 8, City of Saint John, Province of NB, Glen Falls school community; Glen Falls Home and School Association; Partners to Glen Falls included are: BASE Engineering, Irving Paper, Gunter Business Machines, Hickey Brothers LTD., and our local WalMart.
As a school our main objective is to educate the children in our care not just the set out basic curriculum but also 21st century skills as Collaboration and team work, and developing citizens of tomorrow by contributing to the community now. Our students and the greater school community have contributed to this special community project from its onset.