In recognition of a $156,000 donation toward the project, a playground structure at Moonlight Beach Park is now known as United Way Playground.
The park itself will continue to be named Moonlight Beach Park.
The city made the name change official yesterday, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony and sign unveiling with members of the United Way Centraide North East Ontario board of directors.
“We know parks and playgrounds significantly improve the physical and mental health of the community through the power of play,” Hanumantha Rayudu Koka, United Way’s chair, told those who gathered, noting that the project aligns with their goal to help children “be all they can be.”
“It’s really important that kids in our community have access to play,” executive director Mary Lou Hussak told Sudbury.com. “They do better physically and mentally and they do better in school.”
The playground structure is nautical themed, and caters to various levels of play, with an accessible area for children in wheelchairs and a small enclosed area for children with autism.
“It really encourages imagination and social skills,” she said of the playground structure, which they’ve been working toward unveiling for the past few years, with the help of the city.
The city broke ground on the structure last year, and recently laid sod to cap off the project prior to Wednesday’s ceremony.
The playground structure is part of a larger multi-year playground revitalization project the city has been chipping away at for the past few years. To date, 16 playgrounds remain to be revitalized from a list of 58 identified in 2018.
Last year, FedNor pledged funding to replace playground equipment at eight municipal parks, including St. Charles Lake Tot Lot (Sudbury, Ward 1), Simon Lake Park (Naughton, Ward 2), Gil Loop Tot Lot (Onaping, Ward 3), Shawn Tot Lot (Azilda, Ward 4), Grandview Playground (Sudbury, Ward 5), Brighton Tot Lot (Garson, Ward 7), Lebel Playground (Sudbury, Ward 8), Rosemarie Playground (Sudbury, Ward 8).
Support such as this from outside agencies is integral to getting the playground revitalization done, deputy mayor and Ward 8 Coun. Al Sizer told Sudbury.com, adding that the project “brings everything into the 21st century,” with the old slate of playground structures outdated and falling apart.
Equipment has been installed at all locations, and landscaping and site work was slated to be completed this spring.
City staff have been exploring grant and other funding opportunities to complete the 16-playground balance of the revitalization project.
Hussak told Sudbury.com that United Way is currently working with the city to narrow in on two smaller structures to revitalize in more vulnerable communities.
Moonlight Beach Park was targeted first because it’s a place people from throughout the city spend summer days, and would benefit the most people.
Tyler Clarke covers city hall and political affairs for Sudbury.com.
