Sandy Hook victims to be honored with playgrounds in Hurricane Sandy towns
After the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School approximately two months ago, it’s hard to think of a fitting way to honor the memory of the 26 lives lost.
A New Jersey firefighters’ union figured out the perfect way to memorialize the children and teachers lost while also benefiting children in local communities.
The firefighters will build 26 playgrounds in towns that were hit hard by Hurricane Sandy. The project is titled ‘The Sandy Ground: Where Angels Play.’
Each playground will be named and themed after one of the victims.
The plan is to build 10 playgrounds in New York and New Jersey each. Another six playgrounds will be built in Connecticut.
Construction for the first playground will start in Sea Bright, N.J. and will be named after the special education teacher Ann Marie Murphy.
“The residents of Sea Bright lost so much from Superstorm Sandy that something like a new playground, besides providing a safe place for our children to play, is also a symbol of hope and recovery,” Mayor Dina Long told the Wall Street Journal. “It has a far greater impact that just a nice playground.”
The park dedicated to Murphy might also include a dog run to honor the teacher’s love for dogs.
Other playgrounds will include features that commemorate each victim’s personality. For example, Jack Pinto, who loved the New York Giants, will get a football-themed playground. Catherine Hubbard’s name will be put on a Staten Island playground by the sea and Noah Posner’s playground will be in Rockaway, near his grandfather’s house.
The project will cost $2.1 million and will be spearheaded by New Jersey’s Firefighters’ Mutual Benevolent Association. Construction for the first playground will begin Mach first. To donate to the project, click here.
Follow Mary Ann Georgantopoulos on Twitter @marygeorgant
