FERGUS – When Ted Ecclestone heard an anonymous person had donated toy trucks for the sand box in Fergus’ Victoria Park, and another anonymous person would pick them up at the end of the day and store them, he was charmed.
“We thought it was wonderful,” Laura Ecclestone told the Advertiser. “So we wanted to support that.”
Centre Wellington’s mayor, councillors, senior staff and members of the Ecclestone family were on hand for the ribbon cutting of the new Ecclestone Financial Group Playground on Sept. 22.
The company entered a sponsorship agreement with the township and will pay $150,000 over 10 years for the naming rights.
There’s now a new playground structure with a couple of slides, climbing and rope apparatuses and shade sails, as well as a sandbox.
The toy trucks were not out on this day and Mayor Shawn Watters quipped that “the trucks are in for service.”
Oaklen Siminoski was the first child on the playground equipment on Sept. 22 at the newly unveiled Ecclestone Financial Group Playground in Victoria Park, beside the seniors centre in Fergus. Here his mother Erika offers a steady hand. Photo by Joanne Shuttleworth
Watters underscored not just the dollar value of these kinds of partnerships, but the fact that partnerships are what makes a community.
“We can do more together than alone,” Watters said. “Parks belong to all of us.
“This renovated space is for laughter, for connection, for childhood memories.
“It reaffirms our shared commitment to family life in Centre Wellington.”
Ted Ecclestone said his company is all about teaching financial literacy and he saw a strong connection between that and the children who will play in the park.
“The sponsorship commitment is for 10 years, but this park will be here for years to come,” he said. “To me, it’s worth it.”
Managing director of community services Pat Newson said the township has partnerships with many businesses and individuals.
Some, like this one, are for infrastructure, others support programs like free skating or free swims.
“Partnerships really help enhance a project, provide a nest egg for other projects, or we get projects done sooner than we could otherwise,” Newson said.
Ecclestone Financial Group will pay $150,000 over 10 years to the township for naming rights to the Ecclestone Financial Group Playground, which officially opened on Sept. 22. Photo by Joanne Shuttleworth
