City of Toronto and partners officially open new playground in Driftwood Parkette

TORONTO, Aug. 13, 2016 /CNW/ - Councillor Anthony Perruzza (Ward 8 York West) joined more than 200 volunteers from partner agencies and the local community today to celebrate the one-day build and opening of a new playground at Driftwood Parkette.

"This project demonstrates what can be accomplished when the City partners with business to make Toronto's green spaces more livable," said Councillor Perruzza. "This neighbourhood will benefit greatly from this new playground for years to come."

The playground was designed following consultation with local children and their parents, and was inspired by drawings created by neighbourhood children at a design day event. The project was made possible with the generous support of sponsors including Foresters Financial, an international financial services provider, KaBOOM!, a non-profit dedicated to ensuring that children get the play they need to thrive, and many local residents and organizations.

The new playground includes swings, slides, climbers and spring toys. Other new features include oversized Jenga games, picnic tables with games tops (checkers and chess), benches with incorporated flower planters and raised garden beds for future community gardens.

Since 2006, Foresters Financial has invested over $11.5 million with KaBOOM! to build more than 130 playgrounds across the United States and Canada by the end of 2016. This is the third year in a row the City of Toronto has partnered with KaBOOM! and Foresters Financial to create a new play space for children and families.

"We believe in enriching lives and building strong communities – that's our purpose," said Tony Garcia, President and CEO, Foresters Financial. "Playgrounds are important to communities, providing a public space where children can play safely, families can spend quality time and the community can come together. An investment in a playground is an investment in community, and we are happy to provide the Toronto community with a place that families can enjoy for years to come."

About Foresters Financial
Foresters Financial is an international financial services provider with more than three million clients and members in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, and total funds under management of $34 billion. With a history of more than 140 years, provides life insurance, savings, retirement and investment solutions that help families achieve their financial goals, protect their families and improve their communities. For more information, visit foresters.com.

About KaBOOM!
KaBOOM! is the Washington, D.C.-based non-profit dedicated to giving all kids – particularly those growing up in poverty in North America – the childhood they deserve filled with balanced and active play, so they can thrive. Since 1996, KaBOOM! has collaborated with partners to build, open or improve nearly 16,300 playgrounds, engaged more than one million volunteers, and served 8.1 million kids. KaBOOM! creates great places to play, inspires communities to promote and support play, and works to drive the national discussion about the importance of play in fostering healthy and productive lives. To learn why #playmatters and why cities are embracing #playability: visit kaboom.org or join the conversation at http://www.twitter.com/kaboom or http://www.facebook.com/kaboom.

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit http://www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

SOURCE City of Toronto

Media contacts: Doug Bennet, Parks, Forestry and Recreation, 416-338-6608, 416-873-2113 (mobile), [email protected]; Jennifer Peckett, Foresters Financial, 647-290-0125, [email protected]; Lucy Nutting, KaBOOM!, 202-464-6195, [email protected]