THE CHILDREN’S playground at Paphos General Hospital which has been funded solely by donations is finally finished after three years.
The project sparked controversy last year when volunteers responsible for the playground were accused of misuse of funds by unnamed Paphos residents.
Project manager Maurice Newman said that saboteurs went as far as complaining to the police, but he stressed that all monies donated to the appeal were accounted for and the police were ‘satisfied.’
“It’s such a shame that some faceless people made allegations on the internet and then went so far as to complain to the police. I wanted to do something nice for the children and families and we got a lot of bad press last year, which was unfortunate,” he said.
The project manager believes that the problems first arose because someone held a grudge against one of his volunteers and that ‘sadly the whole project suffered because of it.’
Newman, who was recently nominated for a Paphos Heart of Gold award, said he was relieved that the venture had finally been completed and is due to be handed over to the hospital in an official ceremony in June.
Along with a group of volunteers, he has spent the last three years working on the project which is set at the rear of Paphos General Hospital. It will be for everyone’s use, patients, staff and visitors.
Newman has already raided thousands for the children’s ward of Paphos General by broadcasting live for 24 hours on a local radio station.
He then decided to raise more funds to create a play and picnic area outside the facility. “I did another 24 hour stint on the radio and raised about 6,000 euros,” he said.
According to Newman the concrete base alone cost in excess of €4,000 and he and his wife have donated many of the plants which make up the ‘peace garden.’
“A hospital is a place for both good and bad news and I wanted to create a space for people to either reflect or to go and feel happy.”
The area also has picnic tables and benches and a playground for children.
Both the Mayor of Paphos, Savvas Vergas, and the Chief of Paphos Police, Dimitris Tsokkas, are due to attended the official opening of the project on Wednesday June 29 at 4.00pm.
A number of local businesses who have donated funds as well as the volunteers who were involved will also be there.
Newman added that the project was a great example of people working together for a common goal, from both the local and ex-pat community.
