Riverside Park Will Soon Have A New Playscape

Riverside Park will soon have a new playscape, courtesy of Where Angels Play Foundation's Sandy Ground Project. If all goes according to plan, construction will begin on November 13 and the playground will officially open with a ribbon cutting on November 17.

The foundation was formed by a New Jersey firefighters union with the dual purpose of honoring the victims of the Sandy Hook school shooting in Newtown and of helping communities devastated by Superstorm Sandy. The organization's intent is to create 26 playgrounds as living memorials to all the victims of the Sandy Hook massacre.  

In May, Where Angels Play officially selected New London's Riverside Park as the location for a playscape that will be dedicated to six-year-old Emilie Parker and named "Emilie's Shady Spot." Parker was one of the 20 children and six adults killed in the December shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.  

The New Jersey firefighters have been working closely with New London Firefighter Victor Spinnato, who volunteered to be the local point person for the project. The playscape is funded entirely by donations and fundraisers, such as the 5K run/walk to benefit Where Angels Play that was held on November 2 at Ocean Beach Park in New London. 

The playscape will be constructed by volunteers and a truck and work crew from New Jersey are expected to arrive on November 13 to unload materials. Volunteers will build the new playscape on November 14, with rubber surfacing of the area scheduled for November 15-16. The organization anticipates holding a ribbon cutting ceremony on Sunday November 17, time to be announced. 

Visit www.thesandygroundproject.org for more information.