Families celebrate reopening of Jerry Park
The ribbon is officially cut on the now reopened Jerry Park in the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, creating a vibrant space for families, kids, and neighbours to come together and enjoy. – Keith Dempsey/Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The laughter of children filled Jerry Park again as families, community leaders and project partners gathered to celebrate the grand reopening of the park and unveil its new accessible and inclusive playground in the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands.
The ceremony, held on June 26, marked the completion of upgrades designed to ensure children of all abilities can enjoy the community space, with local families among the first to explore the new equipment following the official ribbon-cutting.
Mayor Corinna Smith-Gatcke said the reopening was particularly fitting during Recreation and Parks Month, noting the important role parks play in building strong and connected communities.
She thanked council members, township staff and project partners for their work in bringing the project to completion, recognizing the collaboration required to transform the playground into a more welcoming and accessible space.
Coun. Angela Kelman spoke about the importance of play in childhood development and highlighted the significance of c
The ribbon is officially cut on the now reopened Jerry Park in the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands, creating a vibrant space for families, kids, and neighbours to come together and enjoy. – Keith Dempsey/Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
The laughter of children filled Jerry Park again as families, community leaders and project partners gathered to celebrate the grand reopening of the park and unveil its new accessible and inclusive playground in the Township of Leeds and the Thousand Islands.
The ceremony, held on June 26, marked the completion of upgrades designed to ensure children of all abilities can enjoy the community space, with local families among the first to explore the new equipment following the official ribbon-cutting.
Mayor Corinna Smith-Gatcke said the reopening was particularly fitting during Recreation and Parks Month, noting the important role parks play in building strong and connected communities.
She thanked council members, township staff and project partners for their work in bringing the project to completion, recognizing the collaboration required to transform the playground into a more welcoming and accessible space.
Coun. Angela Kelman spoke about the importance of play in childhood development and highlighted the significance of creating a playground that is accessible to everyone.
Kelman also thanked playground supplier New World Park Solutions, Wendy Huggins and Park N Water, which supplied the safety rubber play surface, for helping ensure the playground meets the public safety standards outlined in the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act.
Council members joined children, playground supplier Wendy Huggins and excavating and landscaping contractor Mark Grier in cutting the ceremonial ribbon, officially reopening the park to the community.
Following the ceremony, children wasted little time putting the new playground to use, climbing, sliding and exploring the equipment while township staff organized games and family activities throughout the afternoon.
The upgrades are intended to provide a space where children of all abilities can play together while giving families an inclusive place to gather.
Keith Dempsey is a Local Journalism Initiative reporter who works out of the Brockville Recorder and Times. The Local Journalism Initiative is funded by the Government of Canada.