The Region of Queens officially opened the universally designed playpark on Friday, Oct 13.

A universally designed playpark is built to be inclusive of everyone, regardless of age or ability. The park includes ramped decks, braille and audio elements as well as a spray pad with sprinklers, a fountain, filler buckets and jet spray units.

Executive Director of Autism Nova Scotia Cynthia Carrol joined Region of Queens staff and council members as well as Debbie Wamboldt, the woman who led the effort to put together the $600,000 to build the park in officially opening the doors to the playground.

Wamboldt first approached the Region of Queens about supporting the construction of a universally designed park in 2015. The Region since has provided the land at Queens Place next to the skate park and will own, operate, and maintain the park for residents.

In addition to the land contribution, the municipality kicked in $112,000 from the community fund with the province topping off the rest of the funding.

But it was the efforts of Wamboldt and her team who raised approximately $100,000 which spurred the rest of the agencies to follow suit.

Autism Nova Scotia issued charitable tax receipts to donors and held the money in trust to pay the Region for construction as invoices were submitted.

Region of Queens Mayor Darlene Norman says the generosity of residents came in all forms.

“You see pictures of children who, all they wanted for their birthday presents was money so they could give it to the play park. I knew of children that with the help of their mother, they set up a little bakery and they kept a set of books, all the profit went to the play park,” said Norman. “There were many, many things.”

The name Etli Milita’mk (pronounced ed-a-lee milly-dumk) was selected for the playpark after consultation with Acadia First Nation representatives. The Mi’kmaq phrase means, “We are playing here”.

To hear the broadcast of this story click play below.