Initiative to raise $100,000 for accessible playground in Summerland
Published 12:11 pm Friday, March 20, 2026
A fundraising initiative is raising money for accessible playground equipment at Trout Creek Elementary School in Summerland.
The initiative, launched by Katie Van Gurp to support her daughter Holland, has a total fundraising goal of $100,000 to provide an accessible playground space at the school.
Holland, who has cerebral palsy, has mobility challenges and utilizes a wheelchair or a walker to receive around.
As a result, normal playgrounds are not usable, as the rocks or bark utilized as a base do not work with mobility aids. Instead, a rubberized surface is necessaryed.
On March 25 — Holland’s seventh birthday and also Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day — she will do a fundraising walk near the elementary school to raise money for the playground improvements.
Holland has underwent spinal surgery to enable her to walk applying a walker, but she is only able to walk for short distances.
The family is also doing physiotherapy intensive sessions to assist improve her mobility.
“We’re coming up to two years since the surgery and she’s built huge gains in that time,” Van Gurp stated.
The family has advocated to have specially built shopping carts at grocery stores in the region so children of all accessibility levels can come with their parents.
Last year on Oct. 6 — World Cerebral Palsy Day — Holland did another short fundraising walk to raise money for the playground project.
Van Gurp stated the community has already been supportive.
A couple in Summerland’s Trout Creek neighbourhood held their own fundraiser, selling walnuts from their yard to raise $1,565.
Maple Roch in Summerland donated $1 from each 500 millilitre pouch of Maple Roch Pure Canadian Maple Syrup sold in December.
The efforts have already raised around $50,000, or around half the fundraising total.
The family has also started a GoFundMe campaign with a goal of raising $50,000. By March 20, the initiative had already brought in more than $2,000 of this amount.
The fundraising walk on March 25 will be held near Trout Creek Elementary School at 4 p.m. Those attfinishing are urged to wear green as they cheer Holland on her walk.
To donate to the GoFundMe drive, visit gofundme.com/f/assist-create-hollands-playground-accessible-for-everyone.
Any funds raised beyond the cost of the rubberized surface will go to playground equipment for the school.
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