Sunday, Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby, City of Toronto Staff, local children, community volunteers and the team from Sinking Ship Entertainment for the TVO Kids show "Giver" celebrated three days of work on a new playground for the park.

"Partnering with the Giver team and their commitment to Martingrove Gardens Park has enabled us to engage young community members to participate in activities that lead to a sense of unity, encourage healthy activity and learn how the City puts together a new urban forest themed playground," said Councillor Gloria Lindsay Luby (Ward 4 Etobicoke Centre). "The lasting experience and sense of accomplishment will stay with the community for years to come".

Six children from the Martingrove Gardens community worked with the Giver team and local volunteers from the Embrace Martingrove Gardens community group to install the new playground.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with the City of Toronto to build a forest theme playground with kids and volunteers from the Martingrove Gardens neighbourhood! This is a brand new public space that we hope they will enjoy for many years to come.” said Kristen McGregor, Producer, “Giver.”

Toronto Parks, Forestry and Recreation prepared the site prior to the program shoot by removing the previous play structures and worked with A.B.C. Recreation Ltd. to install the new playground apparatus. Small trees, shrubs and perennial flowers were selected by Urban Forestry and the landscape architect who provided staff to teach and supervise community planting volunteers.

Participants were instructed on the importance of planting native species trees and how to spread mulch to nurture growth in the newly planted areas around the new playground. Everyone was treated to an on camera tree climbing demonstration.

Community children worked together with Sinking Ship Productions to develop an art installation as a permanent legacy to the day.

Martingrove Gardens Park is located at 31 Lavington Drive.

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