More than a hundred volunteers in orange shirts pitched in, hauling mulch and planting trees and shrubs, to transform Fairlea Park into a natural playground Thursday.
The project’s a partnership between the city, Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds and ING Direct, which supplied $174,000 in funding and volunteer labour from the bank’s employees and families wearing those trademark orange shirts.
The park features fallen logs, climbing rocks, winding pathways and open-air theatre seating, added to the existing ball diamond, play structure and basketball court at Fairlea Park.
“I had the opportunity to really be around nature growing up, but a lot of city kids don’t really have that opportunity,” said Coun. Diane Deans.
“This park is a departure from what we at the City of Ottawa normally build. This is back to nature, this is green living. It’s to give the children an appreciation of nature and imagination and what they can do.”
