Reviving a Beloved Tradition with Windrush Weekly Activities

In the heart of the neighborhood, Windrush Park was once the site of an annual event that brought joy and connection to the Doon community. For years, children and parents eagerly anticipated this day filled with fun, games, and togetherness. Unfortunately, this cherished tradition ended in 2020, leaving a gap in the community's social life.  

This year, a group of passionate youth, Ruhi Gill, Sophia Benedictos, and Rachel Boynton, came together to revive that sense of connection—this time, with a weekly format. Starting on July 13 and running until the end of August, youth-led activities took place every Saturday morning at Windrush Park. This initiative focused on fostering neighborhood connection and community spirit, just like the event that is fondly remembered by many. 

Weekly gatherings featured various activities designed for children ages 3-12. From arts and crafts like rock painting and chalk art to outdoor games like frisbee and kite flying, there was something for every child to enjoy. 

The youth organizers enjoyed crafting each activity. As Sophia explained, “We enjoyed designing the activities and putting all the materials together...It was fun being silly together and seeing our hard work come to life. It felt good to see neighbours come together and enjoy themselves.” 

The goal was to breathe new life into the neighbourhood and transform the park into a fun-filled space for families once more—and they succeeded beautifully. The youth leaders reflected on their accomplishments in bringing their community together with Rachel sharing “Honestly, the whole experience was kind of surreal! I remember the first day we were [at the park], and I thought, did we do this? I didn’t think we would be able to pull it off and bring people together – and we did!” 

Ruhi articulated the essence of their project perfectly: “If I could describe our project in one word, it would be ‘connections’. It was all about the friends and experiences that we made. Connection defined our activities. It was those neighbourly connections that made our event successful.” 

With the support of the LoveMyHood Matching Grant, and thanks to the determination and creativity of three youth leaders, Windrush Park has once again become a place of joy, connection, and community spirit.