Enbridge creates new, natural playground at Holiday Beach

submitted to EFP

A new, natural playground has been created at Holiday Beach Conservation Area in Amherstburg, thanks to a generous gift from Enbridge Inc.

  Last Wednesday morning, students from Natural Pathways Forest and Nature School joined local dignitaries to cut the ribbon to officially open this innovative play space.

  Enbridge Inc, a leading energy infrastructure company and owner/operator of the Amherstburg Solar project, is committed to leadership and corporate social responsibility, and forwarded $30,000 toward the natural playground project. 

  Holiday Beach Conservation Area welcomes over 30,000 visitors annually, including thousands of children, who visit the natural space for day use and to participate in outdoor education programs.

  “This natural playground is a great asset to Holiday Beach Conservation Area,” Claire Wales said, who is the President of the Essex Region Conservation Foundation. “Children can engage in imaginative and active play at this unique nature-inspired playground.”

  A natural playground is a play environment that reflects elements from nature – like logs, stumps, and boulders – rather than a traditional steel playground structure. Outdoor play in a natural setting has proven physical benefits for children, including developing gross motor skills, eye-hand coordination, and helping to prevent obesity. Interacting with natural environments also allows children to learn with all of their senses.

  In 2016, Enbridge was also instrumental in helping to create the Holiday Beach Demonstration Wetland, a controlled wetland habitat that improves water quality by reducing phosphorus. As it is intended to inspire others to create wetlands and, as a continuation of this project, Enbridge created a parking area to provide access for guests to enjoy the wildlife and learn more about wetland habitats.

  “We are so very grateful to Enbridge for its ongoing partnership in support of environmental education and stewardship in the Windsor-Essex region,” Wales added.

  For more than 40 years, the Essex Region Conservation Foundation has raised funds to enrich the region as the Place for Life. To learn more, log onto essexregionconservation.ca/conservation-foundation