Special needs playground at Sunny View school stalled midway

Construction on a new accessible playground at Sunny View Junior and Public School — a project years in the making and funded entirely by parent fundraising — has come to an abrupt halt, leaving families confused about delays and timelines.

The project began last month, with crews fencing off the old recreation area. Parents had been promised the work would wrap by September so students could return to a brand new playground with specialized equipment designed for children with extreme special needs.

But earlier this month, the TDSB paused the project to review revised plans. "Construction has been temporarily paused to review revised plans that can maintain specific trees that are in good health at the school," a TDSB spokesperson said.

The fundraiser was born from tragedy: after a student died in 2022, the family decided to raise funds in her memory to build the new playground. Parent Anu Singh explained the stakes. "Many of the students here have extreme special needs so it's very important they have an accessible playground," she said. "It's therapy."

The TDSB confirmed the project will move forward. "TDSB, the consultant and the City are working collectively to achieve a solution as soon as possible to mitigate any delays to the construction completion," the spokesperson said, though no specific timeline was given. Parents remain determined to see the work finished before September.