GOVERNMENTS CELEBRATE GROUNDBREAKING
 FOR NEW COMMUNITY PARK

May 28, 2010 - LONDON, ONTARIO – Ed Holder, Member of Parliament for London West; Chris Bentley, Attorney General, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Member of Provincial Parliament for London West; Bud Polhill, City of London Controller; and Ross Fair, General Manager of Community Services, today celebrated the groundbreaking of Medway District Park.

Medway District Park, located just north of the Canada Games Aquatic Centre and in front of the Medway Arena in the Whitehills area, has been identified as a community in need of recreational facilities. With the generous assistance of the Infrastructure Stimulus Funding Program provided by the federal and provincial governments, ground was broken today on the park. When complete in early fall, it will feature popular amenities such as a spray pad, a skate park, playground equipment, improved toboggan hill and site improvements.

“This new park in the Whitehills area is well-deserved and much-needed.  It will become a community gathering point and a safe and physically-active place for kids and their parents.  The construction of the park will result in critical employment here in London and will boost the recreational facilities for our city as a whole. The whole community wins,” stated Holder.

 “The new Medway District Park will provide a safe place for children and families to be active and enjoy the outdoors,” said Chris Bentley, MPP London West. 

“It is gratifying to launch this great community project in partnership with other levels of government,” says Mayor Anne Marie DeCicco-Best.  “As we continue to work together and invest in innovative facilities like the new Medway District Park, we will ensure The Forest City is well equipped to answer the future social and leisure needs of all Londoners.”

New and enhanced recreational features in City parks are proven to add great aesthetic and recreational benefit to our neighbourhoods. Spray pads are automated, interactive and accessible aquatic play areas for children of all ages and an innovative way of entertaining families and communities. Colourful, safe outdoor playground equipment promotes health, initiative, cooperation and self-confidence in our children; and skate parks provide unstructured opportunities for children and youth to develop and master skills, engage in physical exercise and socialize in a constructive environment.

Other City park recreational projects this summer benefitting from Infrastructure Funding include Oakridge Optimistic Park, which opened its new spray pad on this past May long weekend and Ed Blake Park, currently under construction - adding new park features including a spray pad, upgrades to play structures, the pathway system and washrooms. Carling Heights Optimistic Community Centre will also see upgrades to its current skate pad and pathways.

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