Members of the Saint Anne's Neighborhood Association gathered with other friends on June 21, 2014 for the opening of a brand new handicapped accessible playground at Kennedy Park. Playground Committee Public Relations Director Greg Nawrocki thanked all of the contributors, including the Mayor and City Council who passed a $375,000 bond for park improvements. "To see it completed is nothing short of breathtaking," stated Narwacki, "If one child who is unable to play on a traditional playground can now play with their friends. . . then, yes, we changed the world," Other speakers included Mayor Flanagan, State Representative Alan Silvia, Fall River Commission on Disability Chairman Bill Fontaine, and Fatima Vieira of BayCoast Bank. The Bank and the Commission donated $25,000 each toward the playground along with  numerous local organizations who also raised funds. Click here for the Herald News photos. Click here for photos of the groundbreaking, here for photos of one of the organization's fundraisers, here for a walking meeting with the Mayor, and here for pictures of the Mayor's park bond recommendation. Click here for a 16-minute video of the event.. For more information about the project, contact Pamela Laliberte-Lebeau at 508-367-6819.

(Top row) Annie Codega and Eliza Lynn Rose try out the straight slide and Karen Costa tries out the curved slide while other try the swings. (Middle row, left) Two-year-old Simon and his sister, Emily, enjoy the fun mirror. (Middle row, center) Mayor Flanagan poses with three-year-old Sophie Borges and a giant pair of scissors for the ribbon cutting. (Middle row, right) Saint Anne's Neighborhood Association president Pamela Laliberte-Lebeau and Inclusion Playground Committee Public Relations Director Greg Nawrocki confer on last minute details before the ceremony begins. (Bottom row, left) Mr. Nawrocki introduces Lisa Atkinson and William Fontaine of the Commission on Disability, and Fatima Vieira of BayCoast Bank. each of whom donated $25,000 to the project. (Bottom row, center and right) The Mayor leads the ribbon-cutting before everyone is invited to share in the cupcake cake.