Family Time Park
June 8, 2023 – Family Time Park is now open
Ronald McDonald House Charities® Newfoundland and Labrador (RMHC NL) is pleased to announce, along with many volunteers, donors and families, it has officially completed the reconstruction and development of its outdoor space into what will now be known as Family Time Park. This new space will give sick or injured children a safe and accessible space to play and enjoy much needed outdoor family time.
The Family Time Park project included the development of an accessible and fenced outdoor area surrounding the Ronald McDonald House with improvements such as fencing, entrance gate, bbq/patio area, and most importantly a children’s playground with rubber play surface, two bay accessible swing set, and nature-based play features.
“I think the Family Time Park is going to be an amazing place for our families at Ronald McDonald House to make memories for years to come” said Angie Brown, RMHC NL Board Chair. “Providing a fun, accessible and secure space for our families to interact in a park setting, will help us enhance the experience for all sick or injured children and their families that need the Ronald McDonald House.”
This new space will give sick or injured children a safe and accessible space to play and enjoy much needed outdoor family time.
Thank you to the following donors for giving more family time to sick or injured children and their families through the Family Time Park:
Gift of Family $100,000+
- Government of Canada / Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA)/Agence de promotion economique du Canada atlantique (APECA)
- RioTino IOC
Gift of Togetherness $75,000+
- Locke’s Electrical Limited
- Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro
Gift of Enjoyment $50,000+
- BMO Financial Group
- Brian and Jodean Tobin Family Foundation
- NFI Group
- McDonald’s NL Owner/Operators
Gift of Nature $25,000+
- Basil Dobbin Family Foundation
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador
- Hickman Automotive Group
- VOCM Cares Foundation
Gift of Hope $10,000+
- Atlantic Star Foundation (Trails for Riches)
- Ken and Loretta Scott
- NTV/OZFM
- RBC Foundation
- The R.D. Pippy Family Foundation
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“September 2022 will mark the 10th anniversary of RMHC in Newfoundland and Labrador. In that time a lot has been accomplished, but there is still more work to done. It’s now the perfect time! Time for more mission, more family support and more quality family time. It’s time for Family Time Park” said RMHC NL Board Chair Theresa Rahal. “Providing a fun, accessible and secure space for our families to interact in a park setting, will help us enhance the experience for all sick or injured children and their families that need the Ronald McDonald House.”
The project will see the development of a accessible and fenced outdoor area surrounding the Ronald McDonald House with improvements such as fencing, entrance gate, bbq/patio area, and most importantly a children’s playground with rubber play surface, two bay accessible swing set, and nature-based play features.
“The plan is to upgrade the land in front of the building between the front and woods area that is beyond it. There is a new pavilion going to be there, a great place where families will be able to have barbeques or picnics. There will be a court there to shoot basketballs and score hockey goals. Everything we do with this park will have accessibility and safety at the forefront. Its going to be a real showcase.” said Gary Follett, RMHC NL Board member and chair of the Facilities Committee.
Josh Skinner of Massey Drive spent over a year at Ronald McDonald House when he was fighting cancer in 2019-2020. “I started getting a little stir-crazy. There wasn’t a whole lot I could do outside, so I asked the workers at the house for a basketball net, because at the time they didn’t have one. What they came up with was a temporary one right outside of my room and that worked out quite well. This was just one of many little things they did for me and I was really happy they did that.”
Nature and the outdoors have always been associated with positive energy, wellness and a place to enhance overall mental health. Spending time and being physically active in nature has been proven to promote a healthy lifestyle and improve overall well-being. Spending time outside helps us recover from the effects of stress and our everyday worries. The positive physical and mental benefits of spending time outdoors align perfectly with the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities and the goal of supporting and caring for sick or injured children and their families.
The success of the Family Time Park campaign will position Ronald McDonald House to continue positively impacting the lives of sick or injured children and their families.
