Grand opening of Seniors Play Park in Fenelon Falls

Local MPP Laurie Scott recently met with representatives from the municipality of Kawartha Lakes and Joan Young, an Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) volunteer, in Fenelon Falls to celebrate the opening of the Seniors Play Park at the Lloyd Kelly Parkette.

Scott and Young congratulated the City of Kawartha Lakes Family Health Team on the work done with thanks to a $121,600 OTF Capital grant, along with other local donations, to create one of the first Seniors Play Parks in Canada. The free park is an accessible recreation space that promotes exercise and an active lifestyle for older residents.

“I am thrilled to join in celebrating the official opening of the Seniors Play Park in Fenelon Falls,” said Scott. “The Ontario Trillium Foundation’s Capital grant, as well as local donations, has made this initiative come to life and will keep our seniors active and engaged in our community.”

The municipality acknowledges the vital involvement of all partners and organizations who came together to make this project possible: the Ontario Trillium Foundation, Ormell Sand and Gravel Ltd, Young’s Construction, Kevin Stybosch of Hoek Van Holland Landscaping, the Fenelon Falls Home Hardware and Chris Handley of Handley Lumber and Building Supplies. There were also a number of individuals who were involved with this project and the municipality thanks each person for their help in making this a true community activity.

“On behalf of Council, I congratulate all those involved with this project on the grand opening,” said Deputy Mayor Doug Elmslie. “The Seniors Play Park is the first of its kind, and we are proud that Kawartha Lakes is supporting our older residents in staying active and engaged in their community.”

With action stations that foster mobility and agility, the Seniors Play Park is an opportunity for residents to come together and stay active while being social in their community. The Park has a rubber ground surface, made of 2,000 recycled car tires, which is a non-slip and eco-friendly surface that the groups involved thought would be a welcomed feature by all using the space.

“The Seniors Play Park was a community effort,” said Penni Holdham, Project Lead. “Thank you to all of our community members and partners for your comments, thoughts and suggestions that helped make this space a reality.”

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Government of Ontario, and one of Canada’s leading granting foundations. OTF awarded $108 million to 629 projects last year to build healthy and vibrant communities.