Many hands made light work as a play structure was installed at O'Connor Park Aug. 19.
About 200 volunteers from the community and from partnering organizations sported their rain gear as they built the playground on a gray, rainy day.
The Home Depot Canada Foundation, Better Beginnings Better Futures, the City of Greater Sudbury and KaBoom worked together to co-ordinate funding and construction.
Home Depot employees Katherine Binder and Adam Astgen dig out a spot to install another piece of play equipment at O'Connor Park on St. George Street. The project was sponsored by Home Depot, Better Beginnings Better Futures, the City of Greater Sudbury and KaBoom. The park's official opening will take place on Aug. 23. Photo by Jenny Jelen.
Carole Dodge, executive director of Better Beginnings Better Futures, told Northern Life in July all the children and parents involved in the program got together to share ideas for the new playground.
“They all came in and they chose their playground equipment and they designed exactly what a playground should look like,” she said. “So today, their dream is coming true.”
Dodge said the playground will cater mostly to children in the area, but families from other parts of the city are welcome to take advantage of the facility.
KaBoom is an organization that “envisions a great place to play within walking distance of every child,” according to project manager Christine Jackson.
She said Home Depot funded the majority of the project, and the other organizations involved covered the remaining costs.
Chuck Reimer, the store manager of Sudbury's Home Depot, said participating in builds like this is part of the companies “commitment to creating vibrant, sustainable communities for Canadians.”
He said the Home Deport is “proud to make a meaningful difference in our community.”
There was a play facility at O'Connor Park before, but it was more than 30 years old, and no longer considered safe for kids.
The new playground officially opens Aug. 23.
