~ Boston, MA - Mayor Michelle Wu expressed her gratitude to the Parks team and community partners for the stunning renovation of O'Day Playground, emphasizing the importance of outdoor spaces for families. The playground, located in the heart of the South End, has been a beloved spot for neighborhood residents and local organizations.

The updates to O'Day Playground include new play equipment for children of different age groups, a splash pad, swing set, and court resurfacing with colorful graphics. The lighting and accessibility have also been improved to enhance the overall experience. These upgrades were made possible through a $400,000 Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) Grant administered by the Commonwealth's Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs. The total project budget was $2,570,000.

Commissioner Ryan Woods of Boston Parks expressed his excitement about this major investment in O'Day Playground, which serves as a community and cultural hub in the South End neighborhood. He credited the input and collaboration of partners and community members for making this project a success.

The design and development of O'Day Playground were heavily influenced by community feedback gathered through public meetings and surveys since 2022. The Friends of O'Day Playground and IBA played crucial roles during this process. Children from nearby schools and daycares were also involved in choosing playground equipment while incorporating community suggestions such as colorful court graphics, lower basketball hoops, and game tables for chess and dominoes into the final design.

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Co-chairs Nicola Truppin and Barbara Collins from Friends of O'Day Playground expressed their delight with the renovation, which they described as a result of genuine community planning in partnership with the Parks Department and IBA. They also announced plans to resume their annual Bikes Not Fights event in May while looking forward to organizing other fun events in the future.

Vanessa Calderón-Rosado, CEO of IBA (Inquilinos Boricuas en Acción), highlighted the significance of the renovation and opening of O'Day Playground, especially as they are currently building La CASA - The Center for Arts, Self-determination, and Activism next to it. She described this vision as transformative for Villa Victoria, the South End, and the City. Calderón-Rosado also expressed excitement about having a new space for children and youth in the neighborhood and looked forward to partnering with the City in organizing vibrant events at O'Day Playground.

For more information about O'Day Playground, please contact the Boston Parks and Recreation Department at (617) 635-4505. Stay updated on news, events, and park improvements by signing up for their email list at bit.ly/Get-Parks-Emails and following their social media channels @bostonparksdept on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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