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Community Office: 100 Regina St. S., Suite 220, Waterloo, ON N2J 4P9  519-725-3477 •  cfife-co@ndp.on.ca • www.catherinefife.ca Join me at my New Year's Levee Sunday, January 15 • 11:00 am - 1:00 pm Golf's Steak House • 598 Lancaster St. W., Kitchener Catherine Fife MPPKitchener-Waterloo THURSDAY, JANUARY 5, 2017 • WATERLOO CHRONICLE • 11 CITY LIFE WATERLOO CHRONICLE CITY LIFE WATERLOO CHRONICLE AROUND TOWN By Bob Vrbanac Chronicle Sta� Jennifer Knight worked as a professional fundraiser in the past but even she was surprised by the response the Clair Lake Playground project received in the last few months. "In my previous life I was a professional fundraiser, and worked as a fundraiser for a long time," said Knight, who was director of development at � eMuseum, and raised fund for KidsLink and other groups. "I've never seen anything like this. "It shocked me. I've never seen people email and ask how they can donate. I've always been the one begging for money." It was a testament to the community spirit of Waterloo's Beechwood Park and Beech- wood South neighbourhoods which came together to raise more than $48,000 to build a shared playground near Centennial public school for the children that call the area home. � e neighbourhoods have other amenities like walking trails, tennis courts and com- munity swimming pools, but as more young families have moved in to the area they were missing a traditional place to play. "When they built this area they built it with the thought that the pools and the tennis courts are enough," said Knight. "But with so many families with young kids, they needed more, and we needed to build something that we could use year round. "And we de� nitely have a lot more young kids in the neighbourhood, there's been a lot of turnover in the past few years." � is fundraiser has been years in the mak- ing for the committee. Knight, one of the co- chairs of the e� ort, remembers moving to the neighbourhood in 2012 and asking someone where the nearest playground was. She was told it was at Keatsway Public School a couple kilometres away -- too far for her kids. By the next summer Knight found out just how much pent up demand there was for a playground in the area when she asked peo- ple at the Beechwood South Neighbourhood Association's annual barbecue if there was any interest in the project. "I was totally unprepared for the response," said Knight. "I had a paper plate full of names and email addresses they had written on it to show they were interested ." � e e� ort got sidetracked while Knight and co-chair Hilary Bergsieker added additions to their expanding families, but it got sparked up again earlier this year when Elana Chand moved to the area looking for a place her son Ari could play. That effort saw more than 90 families add their names to a list of those interested in bringing swings, slides and other play equipment to the neighbourhood. It received matching donations from local families, real- tors, businesses and grandparents who got behind the community e� ort. � e e� ort included selling colouring books created by local artist Jonathan Munz at Paint by Munzy, and culminated in the Beech- wood's Best Art Market on Dec. 3 at Centen- nial Public School, where 6,200 was raised. It was put over the top after Christmas when Dr. Mnyusiwalla, a member of the com- munity, made a donation saying that he's looking forward to sharing the playground with his six grandchildren. "We've have the most amazing commu- nity support," said Knight, who is also presi- dent of the Beechwood South Neighbourhood Association. "I couldn't believe it. "� ere's such a strong sense of community here. People really want to know each other and be part of each other's lives and want their kids to grow up together." Bergsieker said it was a critical mass of par- ents and grandparents who wanted to make it happen, and everybody did their part. "It was a lot of people who contributed what they could," she said. "Whether it was the change drive to the art market to these very generous, large donations, people want- ed to make a di� erence." She said her three sons are looking forward to the playground, which is slated to be built in June and already has the support of the City of Waterloo and Coun. Je� Henry behind it. "� ey're thrilled," said Bergsieker, whose sons put together a message for the donors. "My boys are excited about what kind of future it will have, and getting to play there with their friends." Something to celebrate Clair Lake neighbours reach goal for community playground Kids involved wit the Clair Lake playground project sent out this note last week when they learned they had reached their fundraising goal. SUBMITTED PHOTO New Year's Levee at the Hauser Haus Mayor Dave Jaworsky and city council host the annual New Year's Levee Jan. 8, 1 to 3 p.m., at the Haus- er Haus at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex. Join them for free family activities, free entertain- ment and free cookies and refreshments. � ere will also be live music. Activities include free skating from 1 to 3 p.m., and free swimming from 2:05 to 4 p.m. Grab your kids, skates and swim suit and come out for a fun afternoon with local council. Visit www.waterloo.ca/en/government/NewYears- Levee.asp. City winter activites registration Find winter activities for the whole family in the City of Waterloo's Winter Program Guide. What's inside the winter guide: ∙• Meet the Team - featuring the city's Fit Pac and Tai Chi instructors. • New programs: Crash Rhythm, family or adult Drumfit, youth or women Intro to Weight Training, senior Intro to Resistance Training, adult Learn to Play Hockey Clinic, High Five Training. • Local shows and ticket information for all ages. View the guide online at www.waterloo.ca/pro- gramguide to make your selections. Register online at www.expressreg.waterloo.ca or in person. Try Synchro Jan. 8 at the Rec Complex Come and try out sychronized swimming for free, Jan 8, 4:30 to 6 p.m., at the Waterloo Swimplex at the Memorial Recreation Complex. Programs are available at the recreational, novice, provincial and master's levels. All recreationals pro- grams include learning to use the synchro mermaid tail. � e coaching sta� are certi� ed lifeguards and can teach each participant proper swimming and survival skills. For more information, visit www.teamunify.com.