The new DJ Hancock Memorial Park in the city's south end will be a happy place to remember a young man and hockey player who was taken from the community too young due to a drunk driver, said his family.
“We used to go to the memorial at Countryside (Arena) and the highway just to think about DJ. As nice as that is, it's almost depressing at the same time,” said DJ's mother, Kim Hancock. “This is a happy place we can come to.”
DJ, who played hockey for the Nickel Capital Wolves, was killed on Aug. 21, 2014 when the vehicle he was driving collided with a vehicle driven by a driver who, it turned out, was impaired. The 18-year-old was killed in the crash.
But instead of tears Wednesday morning, when the park in his honour had its grand opening, there were mostly smiles from the families and children who came out to enjoy the Splashpad of Champions – designed to look like a hockey rink – and new play structure at the Ramsey View Court park.
“As a friend and as a mother my heart went out to them. I couldn't understand or imagine the grief they were going through,” said Melissa Sheridan, chair of the Splashpad of Champions Committee, which helped make the new park a reality.
The committee was able to raise $172,000 through community events, including charity golf tournaments, to help build the $500,000 park.
The park was completed thanks to in-kind donations from local businesses to supply and install the park's infrastructure, including a large play structure.
Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger said the park will serve as an ongoing reminder not to drink and drive.
