A long-awaited oasis for children of all ages and abilities is now open.
After two years of planning, fundraising, and construction the Farrow Riverside Miracle Park had a soft opening this week. With summer temperatures more tolerable this week than recently in Windsor, the park has been busy with many kids trying out the structures and amenities throughout the 13,000 square feet of space.
The park is built on the site of the former Riverside Arena and had a formal opening in May. However, the park was only open that day to invited guests for a sneak preview as additional work still needed to be done.
The city of Windsor had leased the land at Wyandotte Street East near St. Rose Avenue to the Riverside Minor Baseball Association for the creation of a “miracle field” attached to the park. The ultimate goal was to create a space that would be all-inclusive, with completely accessible structures and playground equipment. The goal is to have the park open 24 hours a day so anyone could come and enjoy it whenever the desire arises.
The original price tag for the complex was over $2-million. That was raised through donations that included a commitment from Bill Farrow, along with a $150,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. Additional funding, however, is being sought to complete the entire complex. Bill Kell, chairman of the park steering committee, told Blackburn News in May that they were eager to complete those.
"It’s part of the dream that we had always thought about," said Kell. “It’s one portion. The first one we wanted to open was the playground for the kids. The sports field and the picnic pavilion will be next, then the cenotaph, and then we’ll finish it right off with the fitness track.”
Windsor city councillor Jo-Anne Gignac of Ward 6, who grew up in the area and represents Riverside at City Hall, said in May that the facility, once all amenities are complete, will be unique nationwide.
"To see this, with all of the components that Bill had mentioned, along with the accessible pool that’s right here, I think it’s going to be a coordinated facility that you won’t see matched across Canada," said Gignac.
If you are interested in helping out by donating to the Miracle Park, contact information is available in the photo below.
