More fun is about to be added to Rachel’s Kids Park of Hope in Cornwall

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This is not the kind of news often offered during difficult economic times.

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Cornwall Council was briefed by the Director General of Planning, Development and Recreation Jamie Fawthrop that the fundraising efforts of Rachel’s Kids Park of Hope have been so successful that the children will be able to explore and play more than what the original concept included.

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“The fundraising campaign exceeded its goal and they have added additional funds to further enhance the installation (of a fully inclusive playground),” Fawthrop told Coun. Elaine MacDonald during a discussion about how things were going at St. Teresa Park.

What was added is the second phase of the park, and the board approved a non-competitive purchase to New World Park Solutions, of Brantford, Ont., at a total cost of $352,224, to supply and install several play structures and cast- rubber surface in place.

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The council was told that the charity Rachel’s Kids has since applied for a second phase extension of the park and has pledged to raise all the necessary funds to cover the cost of the extension; the fundraising initiative initially committed $600,000 for the purchase and installation of the first stage.

Where is the first stage, MacDonald wondered? She noted that the splash is still in the park, but there is empty space nearby.

Fawthrop explained that the previous play structure, including the swings, has been removed and the first phase structure will be coming very soon.

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“Over the next two weeks, the playground structure supplier will mobilize the site and begin the installation of phase one,” Fawthrop said.

MacDonald asked about plans to provide barrier-free parking, and Fawthrop explained that the park will be an attraction and destination for residents with disabilities and mobility issues.

“So we envisioned the need to supplement the facility with barrier-free parking, which has historically been referred to as handicap parking,” Fawthrop said. “It’s essentially an area in the southeast corner to accommodate (a handful) of parking spaces.”

As for the cast-in-place rubber surface, Fawthrop said he would review with the installer what the color scheme is and possibly change if it’s a darker color that would result in much hotter to the touch.

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MacDonald referenced Brockville’s Hardy Park, an accessible park built in 2009, and said the rubber surface was red and on a hot, sunny day, it was a matter of stepping on it with bare feet. own risk.

“If the color scheme is on the darker side and it’s (a heat issue), we certainly have an opportunity to lighten it, alleviate those concerns,” Fawthrop said.

In mid-August, Dr. Rachel Navaneelan with Rachel’s Kids board members and city representatives gathered at the park for a Rachel’s Kids Park of Hope information session. The Cornwall children’s charity, which supports children in the city – and with health and education initiatives in Sri Lanka – said at the time that it expected Rachel’s Kids Park of Hope to be completed in about a year.

Four main elements of playground design will be structures accessible to those in wheelchairs or other mobility devices, elements that engage the auditory, tactile, proprioceptive and visual-sensory systems, activities that promote a range of motor, cognitive and social and imagination. Play.

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