The groudbreaking ceremony showcasing the new designs for the two-part park was a wonderful place to be on October 3rd, 2018. Not only was it a beautiful day, but the fourth graders of KIPP Cooper Norcross Academy reminded us why we need parks and recreational areas in the city.
The ceremony opened up with the students singing their version of "All I do is Win," their version included lines like "got learning on my mind, I can never give it up" and listed some things they may and can be when they grow up like a doctor, lawyer or psychiatrist.
Council member Shelia Davis later connected their words to the ceremony of soon to be new and improved park. She discussed how important play is in the lives of children, play is when children develop skills and friendships.
The park will provide a safe space and ultimately a learning envirnoment for all the children who utilize it. They will discover so much by using the resources surrounding them.
Former Philadelphia Eagles Quaterback and Founder of Jaws Youth Playbook donated $100,000 to the project and talked about how important this park is. He told a story of his own childhood and how parks lead him to the NFL and where he is today. The park he said was "giving these kids a chance."
Mayor Frank Moran and Freeholder Jeffrey Nash had similar remarks in that this park will serve as a community space where face paintings, movie nights and other events will be held for the families and that this space would be used for many years to come. Nash exclaimed that building parks were the heart of a community.
These Camden leaders reminded many why these areas need attention. Parks are not just a place of leisure, but a space for the community to gather, learn from each other and make connections. These parks will be a part of memories especially in the children that will last a life time and we as adults need to make sure our future generations have nothing but beautiful flashbacks of their youth.
