Foundation creates a new playground for Matamoras

Matamoras — Helping to light the night skies throughout our region are the fireflies that, for many of us, herald the arrival of summer. Along with them, a magical area named for the glowbugs, will become a newly renovated and very special section of Airport Park in Matamoras. Firefly Field, a project spearheaded by Ronnie and Joseph R. Biondo through the Ingeborg A. Biondo Memorial Foundation, will provide surrounding communities with a unique playground that includes specially challenged children in a typical play environment. “The idea of the playground came from a visit to an all-accessible playground in our daughter’s town of Avon, Connecticut,” said Ronnie. “We were so excited to see children of all abilities playing and interacting together and thought it would be a terrific resource for our community.” The Biondos contacted local designer and project manager, Scott Eck of Continuity Design, who has created the park layout that will bring all children into the flow of a typical playground. “This playground is a very exciting opportunity for our area as children from all walks of life will interact in play,” noted Scott. Construction will be done by local contractor and builder, Ernie Bertuzzi, owner of Ebcor Construction Company. The Biondo Foundation Board selected numerous play structures and freestanding equipment that they thought were viable for the project and Scott has created a design that weaves the structures into the landscape, using wood and complimentary colors to give the park an integrated quality. Playground pieces will target children between the ages of one and 12. Plants like sawgrass were specially selected to create a pond-like feel to the grounds. A water park and various pavilions for sun protection and snacking complement the play equipment. “Ronnie and Joe had quite a vision when they conceived the park. It’s very exciting to be a part of it,” Scott added. “This will be a community playground designed to allow parents, grandparents and caregivers a place to comfortably share in the fun and joy of their child’s play,” explained Ronnie. She took her own children to Airport Park for play, picnics, parties and ballgames for over 15 years and is eager to play a role in the enhancement that Firefly Field will provide. “It’s a beautiful resource in our community and it’s a pleasure for Ronnie and me to be involved in part of its restoration,” added Joe. The inspiration for the park’s fanciful name harkens to the beautiful Michael Rice song, “Fireflies and Shooting Stars.” In addition, Ronnie recalls many summer evenings during childhood spent capturing the glowing bugs in a Mason jar and studying the pulsating light before releasing them again The Borough of Matamoras has set aside more than one acre of land at Airport Park for creation of the playground, which is being funded by the Biondo Foundation. The non-profit organization also funds a summer camping program for children.with special needs with over 100 children attending various camps each summer, along with a respite care program, and scholarship and fellowship programs. It has been more than a year since the vision for Firefly Field was launched. Groundbreaking to place earlier this summer and the park is expected to open in September or early October. The Biondos invite the public to be part of this exciting community venture to build a premier playground for children of all abilities in the tri-state area. “Please join us in giving every one of our children the opportunity to be in the middle of the fun,” said Ronnie. For information, please contact Maria at 570 686-2402.