Joey’s Park is a big deal to us, and we are thrilled that our friends in the local media have spent time understanding and reporting on its stories. The following is a roundup of coverage beginning with the most recent. Please check back here for updates as new stories emerge.

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Original builders of Joey’s Park in Belmont to speak March 19 to new generation of volunteers — March 11, 2013

The group that spearheaded the effort to build the first Joey’s Park in Belmont will gather on March 19 to share their insights with the new generation of volunteers working to rebuild the beloved playground.

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Joey’s Park community build set for October 2013 — March 7, 2013

Next October the community will be invited to help build a new Joey’s Park and a major fundraising campaign to support the project is now underway.

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Belmont High School Class of ’92 raises $1,000 to help rebuild Joey’s Park — January 7, 2013

The Belmont High School Class of ’92 raised $1,000 at its 20th Reunion to help rebuild Joey’s Park, a playground build 24 years ago in honor of their classmate Joey O’Donnell.

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Classmates Honor Friend with Donations for New Joey’s Park — January 7, 2013

Contributions came in from across the country from Belmont High School’s Class of ’92 to help build a new playground that will replace one built 24 years ago in honor of classmate Joey O’Donnell.

Joey’s Park, 2.0, Meeting Thursday — December 5, 2012

Join the Friends of Joey’s Park on Thursday, Dec 6 from 7 p.n. to 8:30 p.m. at the Winn Brook Elementary School’s cafeteria, for a kick-off meeting to being the next phase of the Joey’s Park project.

Friends of Joey’s Park is thankful to their many friends — November 20, 2012

We have made enormous strides in the effort to replace Joey’s Park and none of it would be possible without an outpouring of community support. So, this Thanksgiving, the Friends of Joey’s Park would like to thank our many friends.

Local family wins iPad, raises thousands for a new playground — November 16, 2012

A local family who raised the most money for the Walk for Belmont to Benefit Joey’s Park is enjoying a new iPad courtesy of Belmont Savings Bank. Linda and Tim Brodigan, along with their three children, raised $3,355 for the Walk to build a new Joey’s Park.

Top Joey’s Park Fundraisers Honored in Belmont — November 13, 2012

Tim Brodigan’s childhood best friend was Joey O’Donnell, the Belmont boy who died at just 12 years old of cystic fibrosis, and whose life inspired the entire town to come together to build Joey’s Park in a barn raising in 1989.

Old Friend Donates the Most for Joey’s Park — November 15, 2012

A local family who raised the most money for the Walk for Belmont to Benefit Joey’s Park is enjoying a new iPad courtesy of Belmont Savings Bank.

First of Two Joey’s Park Community Input Meetings Today — November 13, 2012

The Friends of Joey’s Park is hosting the first of two community input meetings today to review and discuss the design for the new playground.

Joey’s Park Walkathon exceeds fundraising goal, colleting $57,000 for a new Belmont Playground — November 12, 2012

The Joey’s Park Walkathon surpassed its goal of raising $50,000 to put toward a new playground in Belmont, collecting a total of $57,000.

Friends of Joey’s Park to host two Community Input Meetings — November 9, 2012

The Friends of Joey’s Park will host two Community Input Meetings to review the design for the new playground.

PHOTOS: The sun comes out for the Walk for Belmont — October 22, 2012

About 800 walkers joined together for the Walk for Belmont to Benefit Joey’s Park.

Belmont community unites for a cause — October 20, 2012

Adults were reminiscing, children were laughing, and volunteers were handing out “I Love Joey’s Park” buttons while the town of Belmont gathered to save the decaying Joey’s Park at the Winn Brook School on Sunday, Oct. 14.

Photo Gallery: Belmont Comes Out For Joey — October 15, 2012

Rainy morning doesn’t deter nearly 1,000 resident from raising 30K to rebuild Joey’s Park. Now the real work begins.

Walk to benefit Joey’s Park in Belmont this weekend — October 13, 2012

The first-ever Walk for Belmont to Benefit Joey’s Park will be held Sunday, Oct. 14.

Walk For Joey’s Park This Sunday — October 11, 2012

When the organizers of next month’s charity walk to rebuild a beloved Belmont playground learned recently that the original Joey’s Park was also funded through a series of walkathons, “to me it’s a case of the stars aligning,” says Belmont Partners in Play co-founder Ellen Schreiber.

Walk for Joey’s Park in Belmont on its way to hitting fundraising goal of $50,000 — October 10, 2012

Organizers for the Joey’s Park Walkathon planned for Belmont this Sunday are expecting about 1,000 people to show up to the two-mile loop.

It’s as easy as asking – Joey’s Park fundraisers find generous response — October 7, 2012

Like a lot of Belmont kids six year old Sophie Miller is excited about plans for a new Joey’s Park and she wanted to do her part to make it a reality.

Playground Progress: Butler, Joey’s Park Update — October 4, 2012

The two playgrounds that were shut down by the town and school department nearly one year ago will soon have events that will mark milestones for both sites.

Community Invited to Walk for Joey’s Park — October 1, 2012

A short walk may go a long way towards funding a new Joey’s Park playground. The first-ever Walk for Belmont to Benefit Joey’s Park will be held Sunday, October 14 at 2 p.m.

Winn Brook students help design their dream playground — September 28, 2012

“We’re throwing spaghetti on a white wall and we’re going to see what sticks,” said playground designer John Dean of Play by Design, after revealing the preliminary plan for the new Joey’s Park.

Design Daydreams Turn to Reality — September 26, 2012

John Dean strides into the classroom filled with pupils from two first-grade classes at the Winn Brook Elementary School.

Winn Brook students design their dream playground — September 21, 2012

Playground designer John Dean of Play by Design met with 450 students yesterday at Winn Brook Elementary School at the community-wide Design Day.

Plans for Joey’s Park revealed — September 20, 2012

The design for the new Joey’s Park was unveiled in the Winn Brook gym Thursday night, after students had offered their input and even drawn their own ideas for what the new park should look like.

Magical thinking: Plans for Joey’s Park take shape — September 20, 2012

It was pretty much unanimous: the new Joey’s Park in Belmont absolutely must have a zip line. How else would anyone get around? And it would not be complete without an elaborate tunnel system, a train, and rubber bridges that bounce like trampolines.

Cystic fibrosis victim’s friends rebuilding Belmont park — September 20, 2012

The childhood friends of a young boy who died of cystic fibrosis years ago are rebuilding a Belmont park that was made in his honor in 1989.

Plan It Themselves: Kids Get Chance to Design Playground — September 19, 2012

There are not many times kids are asked exactly what they want from adults.

Community invited to walk for Joey’s Park — September 17, 2012

A short walk may go a long way towards funding a new Joey’s Park playground. The first-ever Walk for Belmont to Benefit Joey’s Park will be held October 14 at 2 p.m.

Walk for Joey’s Park planned for Oct. 14 — September 11, 2012

A walk to raise money to rebuild Joey’s Park in Belmont is set for Sunday, Oct. 14, and organizers hope to collect $50,000.

The Friends of Joey’s Park Honoring our History, Building our Future — September 10, 2012

Joey’s Park is the best kind of playground: one that lets children test their physical limits and allows their imaginations to soar. Built it 1989, the magic of Joey’s Park has stood the test of time. Unfortunately, the wooden structure is deteriorating and the playground must be rebuilt.

Boy’s legacy is a playground built for next generation — September 9, 2012

The youngsters who play in Joey’s Park near Winn Brook Elementary School in Belmont never met the little boy for whom the park is named. But their parents did.

Joey’s Park in Belmont to be re-built — September 7, 2012

Playground safety inspectors have determined that a town playground, Joey’s Park, located on Cross Street adjoining the Winn Brook Elementary School and Town of Belmont athletic fields, is rapidly approaching the end of its life. A volunteer group, Friends of Joey’s Park, plans to build a new playground next year with design input from children and a massive community “barn-raising.”

Repairing a Belmont park built for a boy who died too soon — September 7, 2012

The youngsters who play in Joey’s Park near Winn Brook Elementary School in Belmont never met the little boy for whom the park is named. But their parents did.

Belmont Kids To Help Design New Joey’s Park — September 6, 2012

Playground inspectors have determined that Joey’s Park is rapidly approaching the end of its life and a volunteer group plans to build a new playground next year with design input from children and a massive community “barn raising.”

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Friends of Joey’s Park seeks community input on future of playground — June 20, 2012

 

The Friends of Joey’s Park Committee is looking for input from the public on the future of the Joey’s Park playground.

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Residents Asked to Help Shape Joey’s Park Future — June 8, 2012

The Friends of Joey’s Park Committee is seeking public input on the future of the popular playground.

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Partners in play’ aims to maintain Belmont’s outdoor recreational facilities — June 7,  2012

When the Butler Elementary School playground and Joey’s Park at Winn Brook Elementary were temporarily shut down following safety inspections in November, it became clear to members of both school communities that the age and infrastructure of the playgrounds were serious problems.

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Joey’s Park Fundraiser Set for Thursday — January 23, 2012

The kickoff meeting of the Friends of Joey’s Park Committee will be on Thursday, Jan. 26, 7:30 p.m., in the Winn Brook Elementary School cafeteria, 97 Waterhouse Road.

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Joey’s Park will reopen Dec. 8 in Belmont — December 7, 2011

“The temporary reopening of Joey’s Park is very exciting.   We have all learned that the park is at the end of its life, but by making the necessary modifications, the Department of Public Works has made is possible for the playground to remain open while we plan for the future.”

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Town, Schools Respond to Playground Closures — November 5, 2011

In a joint statement released yesterday, Nov. 5, the heads of the Belmont school committee and district in addition to the chairman of the Board of Selectmen are asking parents, students and residents to “exercise patience” as the town and schools will take several weeks in determining the next course of action in response to the closing of popular playgrounds located at two elementary schools.

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Superintendent Closes Butler, Winn Brook Playgrounds — November 4, 2011

That’s the question several parents have been asking in the wake of the closing yesterday of the structures at the Butler and Winn Brook Elementary schools.

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Leaders of the 1989 Playground Build Will Share Insights

Nearly a quarter of a century after they spear-headed the effort to build the original Joey’s Park, the leaders of that project will share their insights Tuesday night as a new generation of volunteers works to build a replacement playground.

Emily Stangle, Louise Dohanian and Sue Guertin – leaders of the 1989 Joey’s Park project – will be the featured guests at a Joey’s Park Community Meeting, which will take place Thursday, May 9 at 7 pm inside the Winn Brook Elementary School cafeteria.

“The 1989 community build is a fantastic blueprint for our current project,” says Friends of Joey’s Park co-chair Diane Miller, “so we view this as a unique opportunity to learn more about the challenges – and the fun – of bringing together the community as we work to build a new Joey’s Park for a new generation.”

In 1989 hundreds of volunteers came together to build Joey’s Park in memory of Joey O’Donnell. The wooden structure, located on Cross Street behind the Winn Brook Elementary School, must be replaced, and the Friends of Joey’s Park plans to build a new playground this October, once again with help from hundreds of community volunteers.

“We invite everyone to come out for Tuesday night’s community meeting,” says Friends of Joey’s Park co-chair Ellen Schreiber. “We’re hoping people will show up with photos and stories from the 1989 build. We also welcome anyone who wants to learn more about plans for the new Joey’s Park. There is a role for everyone to play as the community comes together once again to preserve this local treasure.”

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Childhood friend of Joey O’Donnell tops fundraising list during Walk for Belmont

Tim Brodigan was park namesake Joey O’Donnell’s closest childhood friend, and continues to be an ardent supporter, gathering the most donations and winning the top spot for the Walk. Here are our friends at Belmont Savings Bank presenting the Brodigan family with the top Walk prize – a brand new iPad! The Brodigan kids sent crayon-colored cards to family and friends requesting donations. Would you say no to these kids? Of course not. Everyone said yes — and the Brodigan’s raised a whopping $3,355!

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What a Walk

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1,000 people, $57,000

A little rain – okay ground-rattling thunderstorms – weren’t enough to scare away the 1,000 people who showed up Sunday, October 14 for the first-ever Walk for Belmont to Benefit Joey’s Park. Luckily, the sun showed up, too… just as Al Halliday kicked off the 2-mile trek with a rousing bagpipe send-off. The Belmont High School Marching Band greeted folks at the finish line and everyone stuck around to enjoy donated food, drinks and entertainment … and the sun. The $57,000+ raised was nearly double our original goal. Thank you to all our generous local businesses, volunteers and walkers who made the day a huge success. Here’s a fun fact: the original Joey’s Park was also funded with help from a series of community walks. So when it comes to walks, Belmont rocks!

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