The Rotary Accessible Playground Project at Riverview Park and Zoo in Peterborough is $30,000 closer to its $1.5 million goal, thanks to the lemonade-selling efforts of young entrepreneurs along with the Kiwanis Club of Scott’s Plains and the Rotary Club of Peterborough.
For the Kiwanis Club’s first-ever Lemonade Stand Day held in the summer, 33 participants managed to raise $7,000 for the project — a feat that was celebrated at the Riverview Park and Zoo on Sunday (September 21) with the “Lemonaders” and their families.
At the celebration, the Kiwanis Club added another $8,000 to the total, and the Rotary Club of Peterborough matched both donations to bring the grand total to $30,000.
“We are so honoured to be the recipients of the funds raised through Lemonade Stand Day,” Riverview Park and Zoo manager curator Cathy Mitchell said in a statement.
“These funds will be put towards the Rotary Accessible Playground Project, which is an exciting playground redesign project that will rethink the space ensuring that every child, regardless of ability, can experience the fun of play.”
Marking its 50th anniversary this year, the Kiwanis Club of Scott’s Plains had wanted to support a significant project that would benefit youth and families thoughout the city and county of Peterborough. Having funded the development of playground areas at the Riverview Park and Zoo over the years, the Kiwanis Club approached Mitchell with the idea of organizing Lemonade Stand Day on August 23.
Club secretary Greg McLeod had found out about Lemonade Stand Day in Edmonton from one of his sons who lives there. The community fundraising initiative for the Stollery Children’s Hospital Foundation began 11 years ago with 35 stands and, by 2025, had grown to well over 600 stands that raised a record-breaking $533,664.56 for the foundation.
Thoughout May and June, the Kiwanis Club began spreading the word about Lemonade Stand Day on August 23 and encouraged area children to participate, providing supplies including lemonade mix, cups, and signage. At the September 21st celebration, each participant received a frameable “Lemonade Hero Certificate.”
“The priority was for Lemonaders to have fun, and the feedback we have received about Lemonade Stand Day has been wonderful,” McLeod said. “The Lemonaders are already looking forward to next year, and so are we.”
The Rotary Club of Peterborough is aiming to raise $1.5 million for the completely redesigned accessible playground at the Riverview Park and Zoo.
Designed to allow people of all abilities and all ages to enjoy the space, the accessible playground would include widened pathways between play areas for people using strollers and mobility devices, new surfaces throughout the playground to make getting around easier, and shady spaces with sight lines to make it more comfortable for visitors and their caregivers.
Donations to the project can be made at peterboroughrotary.ca/page/rotary-accessible-playground, with Rotary matching all donations to a maximum of $125,000 this year.
