Five Counties opens new outdoor play area in Cobourg
Dr. Beverlie Dietze and a child play on the new outdoor play area. Photo Courtesy of Five Counties Children's Centre.
It is described as a field of dreams, as Five Counties Children's Centre officially opened their new backyard project in Cobourg. For nearly three years, the Five Counties team have worked to transform a vacant 25,200-square-foot parcel of property into a safe, fully-accessible outdoor space for treatment, recreation, cultural awareness and outdoor education programs.
“We have so much to celebrate, as our field of dreams is at last an amazing, accessible reality,” said Five Counties Children’s Centre CEO Scott Pepin. “With any project of this size and scope, there were challenges to overcome, including fundraising and addressing safety, traffic and drainage issues. But in the end, the transformation of our backyard space will help transform lives and benefit many children and families in Northumberland County.”
At an approximate $376,000 cost, the backyard project includes: accessible amenities like a rubberized track for wheelchairs/bikes/mobility devices, sensory play equipment, slide and wheelchair swing. There are also other play features, raised garden beds, stage area, gazebo, Indigenous cultural awareness space, sunshade cover, storage sheds and safety fencing.
Dr. Beverlie Dietze, an Early Childhood Educator/Researcher and Outdoor Play Specialist, believes the community coming together the way it has to establish the accessible outdoor space at Five Counties will pay dividends for the next generation.
“Adults may view the outdoors as a place where children stomp their feet, run, giggle, and play. However, for children, the outdoors is much more – it is a learning lab for exploration and discovery!” Dr. Dietze explained. “Creating outdoor spaces where children can experiment, play, learn, grow, explore and build connections is vitally important, and that’s where the Northumberland Backyard Project will benefit countless children, youth and families in the community.”
This past year, Five Counties served more than 6,200 children and youth in its region – including nearly 1,800 clients in Northumberland County.
