Two years after a community-led campaign began to build a playground where children of all abilities could play together, Jude’s Joy has officially opened at Ennismore Waterfront Park.
While the first barrier-free playground in Selwyn Township has been open to the public since June 19, a grand opening ceremony was held at the park on Friday (September 4), attended by Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith, township representatives, project partners, donors, volunteers, and local families.
The playground features poured-in-place rubber surfacing that can be navigated by people using wheelchairs, walkers, and other mobility devices, along with adaptive play equipment that includes an accessible ground-level merry-go-round and sensory elements.
The provincial government provided a $145,300 capital grant through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, while more than $200,000 was raised through community fundraising, donations, and in-kind contributions.
“This project is a true testament to what can be achieved when a community opens its heart and comes together for our kids,” MPP Smith said.
“Jude’s Joy is more than just a playground — it’s a living tribute to love, inclusion, and the simple, priceless joy of play. Our government, through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, is immensely proud to support this barrier-free space, ensuring Jude’s legacy continues to touch and bring families together across Ennismore and Selwyn Township for years to come.”
The playground was created through a partnership between the Jude’s Joy initiative, Ennismore Optimist Club, and Selwyn Township.
“On behalf of Selwyn Township council, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make Jude’s Joy a reality,” said Mayor Sherry Senis.
“It was wonderful to celebrate the opening of this special playground with the community and see the joy it is already bringing to children and families. This playground is so much more than a place to play. It is a place where everyone is welcome, where children of all abilities can participate together, and where families and community members can create lasting memories.”
Senis added the township is “incredibly proud” of what the community has accomplished.
The project is named for Julie Grant’s son Jude, who has cerebral palsy and developmental delays.
Grant became an advocate for accessible playgrounds after Jude began using a walker and she discovered that sand and wood-chip surfaces commonly used at playgrounds made it difficult for him to move independently and play with his peers.
After learning the closest playgrounds with accessible surfaces were more than 60 kilometres away in Port Hope and Port Perry, Grant created the Accessible Playgrounds Ontario website and an online map identifying accessible playgrounds across the province.
In 2024, she partnered with the Ennismore Optimist Club to launch a campaign to build an inclusive playground at Ennismore Waterfront Park.
The project initially set a fundraising goal of $250,000. By December 2024, community contributions had surpassed $100,000, with support coming from local service clubs, businesses, organizations, and individual donors. By May 2025, the campaign had already raised $170,000, with additional donations bringing the total to $200,000.
Fundraising initiatives over the course of the campaign included pasta dinners, pancake breakfasts, and other community events. Businesses and organizations also provided monetary and in-kind support, including through employee donation-matching programs.
The Ennismore Optimist Club, which had built the previous playground at Ennismore Waterfront Park, played a central role in advancing the project and worked with Grant, community volunteers, and the township throughout its development.
“Jude’s Joy is a wonderful example of what can happen when a community comes together around a shared vision,” Grant said.
“Seeing the playground officially open and watching families experience the space for the first time was an incredibly meaningful moment. The support we received from residents, businesses, organizations, volunteers, and donors has been overwhelming.”
“We are so proud to see this vision become a reality and to know that Jude’s Joy will bring joy, inclusion, and connection to families for years to come,” Grant added.
Along with the playground itself, the project has improved accessibility elsewhere at Ennismore Waterfront Park. Improvements include an accessible parking lot, enhanced washroom accessibility, accessible pathways, and an access mat leading to the water.
Accessible benches, picnic tables, and other amenities have also been added to support visitors of different ages and abilities.
The playground’s layout is intended to encourage children with and without disabilities to play together while also allowing parents, grandparents, and other caregivers with disabilities to participate.
According to Five Counties Children’s Centre, where Jude and his family have received support, accessible and inclusive playgrounds can benefit all children by removing barriers to physical activity and social interaction and by encouraging understanding, empathy, and friendships among children of different abilities.
Selwyn Township, which is inviting the community to come out and explore Jude’s Joy, says more amenities, improvements, and enhancements are being planned for the park.
