Preston Park was busier than usual on Saturday.
Families were finally able to celebrate the official opening of the park’s new playground equipped that was added prior to the pandemic in 2019. The park is in the heart of the Brantford’s Holmedale neighborhood on Dufferin Avenue.
“It’s more important than ever to have this playground equipment here,” said Karen DeGrandis, the association’s treasurer.
“After two years of COVID-19 and lockdowns, the kids in the neighborhood really need to be outside. And the playground equipment is a wonderful addition to the park.”
The new playground includes equipment geared for children, aged two to five and five to 12. The park has accessible swings, a slide and an apparatus that includes a spider web for climbing. Additional seating includes three new park benches and boulders near the play area.
“This is a really popular park,” said DeGrandis, adding that there are four schools nearby, including Lansdowne-Costain Public School across the street.
The park is also an attraction for older people and groups practicing yoga, tai chi or some other form of fitness, she said.
“It truly is a hub for the community and we’re grateful for the improvements that have been made.”
The official opening was a Halloween-themed event that included trick-or-treating and a bouncy castle.
Austin Samuel, 6, dressed up as Captain America, while his four-year-old sister, Payton, was dressed as Spider-Girl. They were having a great time climbing a spider web-like rope apparatus.
The city is holding 15 playground grand openings this year to celebrate additions to neighborhood parks that were done prior to the pandemic but could not be celebrated because of public health restrictions.
“It’s been a terrific year filled with playground opening celebrations for the community to enjoy,” said Jennifer Middleton, Brantford’s co-ordinator of special events.
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