It’s no great leap to say Barrie kids have more places to play today.
Thursday morning marked the grand opening in Painswick Park of the Muriel and A. J. Billes Family Playground, named after the founding family of Canadian Tire, and funded through the Jumpstart program.
The 21,000-square-foot inclusive playground enables children of all ages and abilities to play side-by-side and focuses on removing accessibility barriers to sport and play.
Martha Billes, daughter of Muriel and A.J., said Jumpstart has helped more than 3.5 million children with similar projects.
“Thousands and thousands of children … do know we care,” she told the large gathering at the Ashford Drive park in the city's south end. “That is the legacy that we are building. This will contribute to the lives of untold children and families.”
The Barrie playground is the largest of its kind built as part of Jumpstart’s Inclusive Play Project.
“Every child can play together,” said Barrie Mayor Alex Nuttall. “They (Jumpstart) have removed the barriers.”
“It’s a perfect place for a playground to welcome all families,” said Nadir Patel, chairman of the board for Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, who also thanked the Canadian Tire Dealers’ Association for its support.
The Barrie playground facility was possible thanks to donations from Canadian Tire’s nearly 500 store owners across the country, whose total contribution to the project was $2.1 million.
The playground includes double-wide ramps, a barrier-free merry-go-round, an entry-level climber, auditory stimulation, and swing experiences for all abilities.
The new playground complements the recent redevelopment of Painswick Park by the City of Barrie, which include the addition of eight pickleball courts, three baseball diamonds and new lit pathways, at a cost of $5 million.
