Swim with Santa raises money for Miracle Park

By Keerthana Veerapandian

Windsor residents swam for a “Miracle” this Saturday when they took a dip with Santa at Adventure Bay Family Water Park

The Swim with Santa event celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities and the money raised will be contributed to the construction of Farrow Riverside Miracle Park. The event included a holiday-themed workshop for kids and pictures with Santa.

“We do a Swim with Santa event every year. We do pictures with kids in the lobby and Santa has got a swimsuit and he jumps around, splashes around the water, rides a couple of slides with the kids,” said Michael Chantler, Assistant Manager at Adventure Bay.

The Windsor Region Hospital Foundation and Windsor Family Credit Union sponsored the event

Windsor resident Sean Duranovich and his daughter joined scores of other children and their families who packed the downtown aquatic centre to frolic in the surf with Saint Nick.

“I’m really proud my daughter got to be a part of this,” said Duranovich. “I think it’s wonderful, after their physical fitness and teamwork, coming out to see the City of Windsor get together to raise money for the Miracle Park, a place where physicality and our health and well-being is nurtured and embraced by the community.”

Bill Kell is the Co-Chairman of the Miracle Park. He said the east Windsor venue is going to have Ontario’s largest playground, covering around 12,000 square feet.

“It’s more than just a game that is for the kids, it’s to build them self-esteem, it’s building friendship through them and it’s changing their lives, because this is something they wouldn’t have been able to do without this park,” said Kell.

The project will cost about $3 million. It is expected to open in August 2019.