‘When is it Friday?’ Kids can’t wait for playground to reopen

Imagine spending three months staring at a playground you can’t play on.

Most kids have spent the past three months at home due to the COVID-19 health crisis, waiting for the reopening of schools and recreational facilities.

The Capewell kids have been tempted maybe more than most. Just beyond their backyard gate stands their neighbourhood playground.

“We can’t play in the park,” six-year-old Sadie Capewell said.

Sadie, her twin brother, William, and their older sister, Emery, are close enough to touch the playground but haven’t been able to due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Capewell kids remember the day they first saw the structure covered with yellow caution tape.

“There’s a bunch of straps (on the play structure),” William said.

“I just got worried,” Emery added.

Emery said the past few months have been made easier by having their own toys and smaller play structure in their backyard, but the three kids still eagerly awaited news that they would once again be able to venture out onto the monkey bars behind their home.

Now, the kids could hardly contain their excitement as they waited with breathless anticipation for Friday to arrive. More than 200 city-owned outdoor recreation spaces are to open, including playgrounds, picnic sites, washrooms, the Douglas Park Track, basketball courts and skateparks.

“Now that they know that it’s opening again, they’re asking, ‘When is it Friday? What day is it?’ ” said Kevin Capewell, the kids’ father. “They know that Friday’s a big day.”

“I’m looking forward to not just that park. There are a few other parks that I like, like the one that’s by my school,” Emery added.

Kevin said it has been challenging for their family to wait for small returns to normalcy.

“They’ve been great with each other and they’ve made the best of it but not being able to see their friends or play with their friends or play on the playground — just (to) have that social interaction — that has been tough,” he said.

Danette Exner, Kevin’s wife, said their weekend plans were set soon after the provincial and municipal governments announced the parks were to reopen Friday.

“I think this weekend we will probably be doing a little bit of a park tour to a few places,” Exner said with a chuckle.