Sean Collier Memorial Playground Nears Completion

Photos Courtesy: Where Angels Play Foundation and Silver Lake, Town of Wilmington’s Facebook Page

By Liz Taurasi

Construction is underway at the Sean Collier Memorial Playground at Silver Lake in Wilmington.

The playground is being donated and built by Where Angels Play, a non-profit that seeks to create joyful places to play and to provide hope, recovery, and a return to family values in the wake of senseless violence and tragedy.

Sean Collier, an MIT officer at the time of his death, and a Wilmington native, was killed four days after the Boston Marathon bombings when he was ambushed in his police cruiser by Tsarnaev and his brother, who were the center of the manhunt that terrorized the state and the region, killing four and injuring more than 170 others.

Local and national volunteers for Where Angels Play have arrived in town to participate in the project that is well underway with finishing touches to the playground happening Wednesday.

View the slideshow above to see the progress of the playground so far.

A ribbon cutting ceremony is scheduled to take place Saturday, Sept. 26 at 10 a.m. Anticipated attendees include members of the Collier Family, members of the Board of Selectmen, members of the School Committee, the Town Manager and others. All are welcomed to attend the ribbon cutting ceremony.

Where Angels Play uses a “pay it forward” model for their efforts. Funds to pay for this project are in part raised from other foundation projects built throughout the country. Where Angels Play will be holding a local fundraiser at the Tewksbury Elks Lodge, on Friday, Sept. 25, from 6-11 p.m. Tickets may be purchased through the organization and money raised at this event will support the Collier Project and future projects of the foundation.

Here’s the current schedule from the Where Angels Play Foundation:

• Tuesday, Sept. 22: 10 a.m. Volunteer and Build Day. Volunteers arrived to help with construction.

• Wednesday, Sept. 23: 10 a.m. Continued work on playground and clean up and finishing touches

• Thursday, Sept. 24: 10 a.m. Any additional clean up needed

• Friday, Sept. 25: 6-11p.m. Fundraising event at Tewksbury Elks

• Saturday, Sept. 26: 10 a.m. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony and Grand Opening of the playground!