As the Rotary Club of Peterborough continues to raise funds for a new accessible playground at the Riverview Park and Zoo, Rotary and the zoo celebrated some of the first major donors to the project during an event at the zoo on Wednesday morning (April 22), where they also unveiled a mockup of a major donor recognition wall to be built at the site.
Last August, in partnership with the municipally operated zoo, the Rotary Club announced its next legacy project would be a completely redesigned accessible playground at the zoo and launched a community campaign to raise $1.5 million for its construction.
Designed to allow people of all abilities and all ages to enjoy the space, the Rotary 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.
After major donors and others spoke at Wednesday’s event, Rotary Club president Tony Grady and Rotary Accessible Playground steering committee chair Betty Halman-Plumley revealed that $288,250 has been raised for the project to date.
That amount includes a $50,000 donation from the Hickey family, announced by Paul Hickey as a tribute to his late father Bob Hickey.
Paul, who said his father spent many hours at the “zoo park” with his two granddaughters, stressed how important it was to keep access to the zoo free for everyone.
Rotarian Mike Evans was celebrated for his family foundation’s pledge of $40,000 in support of the project.
Darryl Goodall of Part Time CFO Services was recognized for an “Activator” level donation of $10,000 to the project.
“As a company proving financial and accounting services, we choose to supports local initiatives,” said Rotarian Atul Swarup, a colleague of Goodall who spoke on his behalf. “The Rotary Accessible Playground hits home for us, because we value accessibility for all.”
Among the donors who recognized for “Climber” level donations of $5,000 or more were Grady and his wife Kelli, both Rotarians and owners of Grady’s Feet Essentials, Peter Blodgett from Darling Insurance, Sarah Joore from AON, and Rotarians Jim Coyle and Wendy Hill.
BWXT Nuclear Energy Canada Inc. was also recognized for having previously pledging $5,000 in support of the project.
Representing the Kinsmen Club of Peterborough, Barry Craft said the Kinsmen have pledged to donate $6,000 in proceeds from their annual Father’s Day car show to the project.
Drew Merrett of Merrett Home Hardware, who was recognized for an in-kind donation of crucial building materials, spoke about how much the zoo and existing playground has meant to generations of his family.
As for the donor recognition wall, it would be located prominently in the Rotary Accessible Playground and would feature colour-coded plaques with the donor’s name or company name or logo. Plaques would be available for donation amounts ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.
“The level of support we’ve seen so far has been incredibly motivating,” said Mary Kate Whibbs, operations and support manager at Riverview Park and Zoo. “It really speaks to the kind of community we have supporting this project, one that values inclusion, accessibility, and spaces where everyone feels welcome.”
“It’s been especially inspiring to see this project bring people together around a shared vision,” Whibbs added. “That momentum is helping us move forward with confidence, and we’re excited to keep building on it as we work toward a space where every child and family can play, connect, and enjoy the playground together.”
For those who want to learn more about the proposed upgrades to the accessible playground and provide feedback to help shape the project, the City of Peterborough is hosting a public drop-in session from from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday (April 23) in the Rotary Education Centre at the Riverview Park and Zoo at 1300 Water Street. Project staff will be available to answer questions and gather feedback from residents on the proposed accessibility improvements.
In addition to the public drop-in session, an online survey is available at www.connectptbo.ca/zoo.
The plans for the accessible playground were originally developed by Riverview Park and Zoo through community consultation in 2018. In 2024, the zoo’s manager curator Cathy Mitchell presented the concept for the project to the Rotary Club of Peterborough.
Under the leadership of former president Betty Halman-Plumley, Rotary conducted a comprehensive outreach process to decide on club’s next legacy project, connecting with community members, local groups, and organizations to listen to their ideas, insights, needs, and possible projects. Rotary decided to take the lead on the accessible playground project, stating that it “reflects our commitment to inclusion, community service, and building spaces where everyone feels welcome.”
Donations to the project can be made at peterboroughrotary.ca/page/rotary-accessible-playground.
Operated by the City of Peterborough, Riverview Park and Zoo is a Canada Accredited Zoo and Aquarium (CAZA) facility and features over 40 animal species.
The connection between the Rotary Club of Peterborough and the Riverview Park and Zoo has a long history, as the zoo was founded in the 1930s by Rotarian Ross Dobbin, who was president of Peterborough’s water utility at the time, after he was given two alligators as a gift from another participant at the American Water Works Association conference in Florida in 1933.
He brought the alligators back to Peterborough, where they were initially kept in the old pump house before being put on display during the summer months in 1935. Over the following decade, additional animals ere added to the small zoo’s collection. In 1968, a provincial by-law permitted the Peterborough Utilities Commission to fund the zoo by using up to nine per cent of revenue generated by the water utility and, in the 1970s, the zoo was officially named the Riverview Park and Zoo.
