Philanthropist Lily Fielding just keeps giving.
In honour of her 100th birthday, Fielding has said she wants to spend the year giving back to the community.
Last June, she announced she was donating $1 million to make the construction of Kivi Park, in the city’s South End, possible. Named in honour of her parents, the park is the largest in Greater Sudbury, at 300 acres, and is located on the site of the former Long Lake Public School.
Since opening in late 2016, Kivi Park has proven to be a popular destination for Sudburians. On March 4, hundreds turned out for the park’s first winter carnival.
Among them was Lily Fielding herself who used the occasion to announce she would be upping her $1 million donation to Kivi Park. Alongside Nickel Belt MP Marc Serré, Mayor Brian Bigger, Ward 9 Coun. Deb McIntosh and Kivi Park leader Melissa Sheridan, Fielding announced she would be donating another $2 million to the park’s legacy.
“I have lived in Long Lake my entire life,” Fielding said. “I grew up and went to school here, married my husband, Cliff, at the Voima Hall, and together we raised our children in the community.
“I wanted to do something special in my 100th year, to give back to the community that has given so much to me.”
Bigger thanked Fielding and her family for the donation.
“We are extremely fortunate to have someone in our community as dedicated as Mrs. Lily Fielding to creating great and welcoming public spaces like Kivi Park,” Bigger said. ” We owe a great deal of gratitude to community builders like Mrs. Fielding, her family, and volunteers who have a vision to make Sudbury a more attractive place to live and play.”
Kivi Park is home to more than 25 kilometres of groomed hiking, biking, snowshoeing and cross-country ski trails, a warming hut, outdoor rink and canteen.
If you wish to support Kivi Park, email [email protected]
