Kent Driscoll
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (May 27/05) - After two years of pinching pennies and fundraising, and almost no outside help, Yellowknife Daycare is hoping to break ground the third week of June for a six-foot chain-link fence to keep the hazards of downtown out of the children's yard.

The fence is part of a $30,000 project that includes the fence, a six-foot wide concrete "tricycle track" running along the inside of the fence, new sand, and new playground equipment.

The fence will feature plastic to block the view from the alley way, and will mean an extra three feet of room for the tykes to play, since they are not allowed to approach the four-foot fence due to safety concerns.

"The taller fence will be better for us because there will be absolutely no chance of taking a child over the fence," executive director Linda Benedict said.

Visitors leave a mess

Also, she hopes the fence will keep out some of the people who visit the playground after hours, forcing her to come at 7 a.m. to pick up their mess.

"They bring in garbage, they leave garbage behind, somebody has to clean up all their stuff, so the answer to the problem is to keep out as many as possible," Benedict said.

Of course, she knows that if people really want in, a six-foot fence isn't going to stop them.

Parents have mixed feelings about the higher fence.

As a mom of a four-year-old, Sheila MacPherson loves being able to swing by the day care and watch her daughter play.

"I won't be able to see her in the same way with the new fence," MacPherson said, "but I am thrilled."

And while the fence may make her safer, four-year-old Shiri MacPherson is looking forward to the tricycle track more.

The day care raised about $20,000 through bake sales and raffles. Another $10,000 came from simply saving up. They applied for government money and received $1,200 from the Native Women's Association.

The fence will also put the day care in compliance with new child care rules coming this September that require a 1.5 metre fence if the surrounding environment is hazardous to children.