Jude’s Joy Gives Ennismore Families a New Place to Play, Connect and Belong

By Scott Arnold

A long-awaited new playground at Ennismore Waterfront Park is now officially open, creating Selwyn Township’s first barrier-free playground and a new accessible space for children and families of all abilities.

Jude’s Joy Inclusive Playground is now officially open at Ennismore Waterfront Park, providing a new barrier-free space where children of all abilities can play and families can connect. (photo provided by Township of selwyn)

The official opening of Jude’s Joy Inclusive Playground brought together families, community members, volunteers, donors and project partners on Friday as the community celebrated the completion of a project years in the making.

Made possible through a partnership between the Ennismore Optimist Club, Jude’s Joy and Selwyn Township, the playground received $145,300 through a Capital grant from the provincial government’s Ontario Trillium Foundation. More than $200,000 was also raised through community fundraising, donations and in-kind contributions.

The result is a playground designed so children and youth of all abilities can participate together.

The space features poured-in-place rubber surfacing and adaptive play elements, including an accessible merry-go-round and ground-level sensory elements. Its layout was also designed to encourage interaction between children, families and different generations.

Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith was among those at Friday’s opening and said the project demonstrates what can happen when a community comes together.

“This project is a true testament to what can be achieved when a community opens its heart and comes together for our kids,” said Smith. “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.”

Accessibility improvements extend beyond the playground itself.

The surrounding area now includes an accessible parking lot, enhanced washroom accessibility, accessible pathways and an access mat leading to the water. Accessible benches, picnic tables and other amenities were also added to support visitors of different ages and abilities.

For Selwyn Township Mayor Sherry Senis, the opening was an opportunity to see the community’s work come to life.

“On behalf of Selwyn Township Council, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who helped make Jude’s Joy a reality,” said 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. We are incredibly proud of what our community has accomplished together.”

Julie Grant, community leader for the Jude’s Joy Inclusive Playground project, said seeing families use the space for the first time made the opening especially meaningful.

“Jude’s Joy is a wonderful example of what can happen when a community comes together around a shared vision,” said Grant. “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.”

The project was supported by residents, local businesses and organizations throughout its development, with contributions coming through monetary donations, in-kind support and employee donation-matching programs.

Community fundraising efforts included pasta dinners and pancake breakfasts, while the Ennismore Optimist Club worked alongside Jude’s Joy and the Township to help bring the project forward.

With the playground now open, families and visitors can experience the new space as part of Ennismore Waterfront Park.

And Jude’s Joy is not the final improvement planned for the park. Additional amenities, improvements and enhancements are planned as the waterfront space continues to evolve.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation provided the $145,300 grant supporting the playground. The provincial agency invested nearly $107 million in 746 community projects across Ontario during 2025-26, supporting initiatives focused on areas including active lifestyles, child and youth development, community connection, economic well-being and environmental sustainability.

Scott Arnold is a Journalist and Content Creator at PTBOCanada Media Inc

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