Ralph Celentano believes playgrounds help bring communities together.
Celentano is the past president of the Kiwanis Club of Nipissing and chair of the Lee Park playground project.
The $500,000 project is a partnership between the City of North Bay and the Kiwanis Club of Nipissing.
“Every day the kids will have a chance to explore another corner of the playground to explore and enjoy,” Celentano said about the 7,000 square-foot playground.
The old equipment was removed and taken away on August 6. Today officials gathered to mark the official beginning of the construction which is expected to be completed in October.
See related: Lee Park Playground to be closed as city sets up new equipment
Celentano says accessibility is the key as organizations such as Autism Ontario, the HANDS Family Network, and One Kids Place have helped the City and Kiwanis Club with their playground construction plans.
“There will be sliders, there will be spinners,” said Celentano.
“There will be a swing set that will accommodate challenged kids. Gliders and sliders that the kids themselves can get on, leave their chair and enjoy the activity and then return to their chair.”
While today is a groundbreaking, Celentano says they hope to have a ribbon-cutting event in the fall.
“Weather permitting we will open up to the city and have an exciting kids day in the fall and really do it up well and this is free to our community thanks to the generosity of our donors and the community,” he said.
