John McGivney Children’s Centre receives $50,000 donation for accessible playground

Written by: Shalu Mehta

December 22, 2016

John McGivney Children’s Centre was presented with a donation of $50,000 Thursday to put toward an accessible playground for kids and families at the centre and for the community.

Anita Imperioli from In Honour of the Ones We Love along with Adrian Vido and Tom Connelly from Drive for a Cure presented the money, which was was raised through golf tournaments and events throughout the year.

“Through our partnership with Anita we discovered this gem called the John McGivney Childrens’ Centre,” said Vido. “It was instantaneous, the alignment of our mission with Anita’s and with what John McGivney does … it’s about our kids and family.”

The accessible playground, named Play McGivney, will feature two main zones: a sensory play area and an accessible play structure. It will be unique to the city with features that are not found anywhere else in Windsor.

The sensory area will have various musical games, alphabetical and numeric panels for learning, a “gas station” and nature-based sound machines.

The accessible structure’s main features are double-wide ramps that can fit two wheelchairs at once and an “aero glider” swing that children with wheelchairs and without can sit in at the same time.

“It’s an expensive undertaking but we’re so lucky to have support from members of our community,” said Danielle Mulvey, senior manager of communications and community affairs at the centre. “It celebrates the diversity in our community. There are different people with various abilities and they can have a place to come and play together.”

The children’s centre is hoping to start construction on the playground in the spring. 

“It’s very important that every child has the right playground to play and grow and have a wonderful time,” said Imperioli, the president and founder of In Honour of the Ones We Love, who has a grandson who currently uses the John McGivney Centre.

“It’s so important to me. Especially when it comes to our children and our community, it means everything.”

Courtest of: The Windsor Star