The City and local Neighbourhood Associations celebrate playground openings

BRANTFORD, ON – The City of Brantford, in partnership with local Neighbourhood Associations, invites residents to the Grand Opening Celebrations of Recreation Park on Friday, September 15, 2023, at 7 p.m. and Hillcrest Park on Saturday, September 23 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. Families can enjoy children’s entertainment, activities and cake while supplies last. Free on-street parking will be available for each event.

“The City has designed and opened for play, 13 new playgrounds over the last four years throughout Brantford for residents to enjoy,” says Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis. “I am extremely proud of the hard work and dedication of our staff who work hard to ensure there are even more ways for families to stay active outside.”

The Recreation Park Grand Opening Celebration, in partnership with East Ward Echo Place Neighbourhood Association, takes place on Friday, September 15 beginning at 7 p.m. The event includes lots of fun activities and entertainment for children followed by a screening of the movie Minions: Rise of Gru at 8 p.m. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 7:30 p.m. Guests can enjoy a free slice of cake, while supplies last. Free on-street parking will be available.

The Hillcrest Park Grand Opening Celebration, in partnership with West Brant Neighbourhood Association, takes place on Saturday, September 23 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. and will offer free family-friendly fun and children’s entertainment. An official ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 12:15 p.m. followed by a free slice of cake, while supplies last.

New features for each park include new junior play equipment designed for children ages 2 to 5 and senior play equipment designed for children ages 5 to 12 and swings, additional benches for seating and paved pathways. Trees have also been planted to offer more shade areas. Hillcrest Park also features a new multi-use court with basketball nets.

“We are extremely grateful to the Government of Canada for their financial support,” says Jennifer Elliott, Director of Engineering Services for the City of Brantford. The City of Brantford received a non-repayable contribution of over $335,000 from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to support the most recent Central Park, Hillcrest Park and Recreation Park developments.

“Creating new parks, like these ones in Brantford, improves the quality of life of Canadians. Spaces that are safe, green, and accessible bring in more people and lead to a stronger community for everyone,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario).

Updated playgrounds opened

In the past four years, the City of Brantford has updated 13 parks throughout the community to bring residents new accessible play structures, more benches for seating, paved pathways and additional tree plantings. Some parks also include multi-use courts with basketball nets.

Central Park, 143 George Street
City View Park, 184 Terrace Hill Street
Cockshutt Park, 35 Sherwood Drive
Devon Down Park, 70 Abigail Avenue
Grandwoodlands Park, 20 Baxter Street
Hillcrest Park, 11 Sandy Row
Mohawk Park, 51 Lynnwood Drive
Moose Park, 40 Webling Street
Orchard Park, 29 Brisbane Boulevard
Pleasant Ridge Park, 20 Elderwood Avenue
Preston Park, 275 Dufferin Avenue
Recreation Park, 258 Nelson Street
Spring Buck Park, 59 Spring Street
Tutela Park Splash Pad, 160 Erie Avenue

Learn more about City of Brantford Parks and Playgrounds by visiting Brantford.ca/Parks.

About FedDev Ontario

For 14 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

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Media Contacts:

Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister Responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
edward.hutchinson@feddevontario.gc.ca

Sharon Sayles
Communications Specialist
Communications and Community Engagement
City of Brantford | 519-759-4150 ext.5218 | ssayles@brantford.ca