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Kerry Wood gets cash boost

The Kerry Wood Nature Centre got a big financial shot in the arm recently as they work towards building their nature playground.With the help of the Parkland Mall, the centre raised $10,000 through the sale of tiles to fill a mural that depicts the future playground.

The Kerry Wood Nature Centre got a big financial shot in the arm recently as they work towards building their nature playground.

With the help of the Parkland Mall, the centre raised $10,000 through the sale of tiles to fill a mural that depicts the future playground.

At a cost of $10 each, they sold 506 tiles between March 20 and Sunday at the mall. The mall then matched to a maximum of $5,000.

“It’s a fantastic sum of money, but the really amazing part of it was the level of support we got from the mall in terms of awareness and their excitement about it,” said Kerry Wood Nature Centre programs co-ordinator Todd Nivens.

The playground will cost between $150,000 and $300,000, depending on how many features are built, and it is part of its approved 2012 Waskasoo Park Interpretive master plan that will also eventually see the renovation of Fort Normandeau and the renovation of the nature centre.

This was the first fundraising initiative held by the Kerry Wood Nature Centre, which has also applied for several grants and does have some funding coming from the city that was earmarked for the master plan. Hopes are to have the playground completed by August. “The more we raise, the less of that pot of money we have to touch,” said Nivens. There are still about 250 tiles left for purchase.