Community Corner

Classmates Honor Friend with Donation for New Joey's Park

BHS Class of '92 raised $1,000 at 20th reunion.

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.

“It was a spontaneous idea several of us came up with,” says Class of ’92 president Andrew Plunkett, a close friend of Joey O’Donnell.  “We knew the Friends of Joey’s Park were raising money for a replacement playground and we figured this would be a great way to help and to honor Joey.”

The Class of ‘92’s 20th reunion last November came 26 years after 12-year-old Joey O’Donnell lost a life long battle with cystic fibrosis. Reunion attendees included a group of Joey’s friends who came up with idea of building the park. 

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Located on Cross Street, next to the Winn Brook Elementary School, Joey’s Park was built in 1989. The wooden climbing structure is now deteriorating and a volunteer group called Friends of Joey’s Park is raising money to replace it.

“We are thrilled that so many of Joey’s classmates are supporting our efforts to preserve this community treasure,” says Friends of Joey’s Park Co-Chair Diane Miller.  

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“Our goal is to make sure that Joey’s legacy continues to delight local children for generations to come.”

The Belmont High School Class of ’92 raised $1,000 for the new Joey’s Park.   Plans are underway to build the new park in October with help from hundreds of community volunteers.

“Many of us were there for the first community build and some of us now have children who play at Joey’s Park” says Plunkett. 

“Our class has a special attachment to the park and it’s great to know that Joey’s legacy is going to live on.”


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