CARBONEAR, NL —Quinn’s Place officially opened in Woodcrest Estates on Sunday, Oct. 15.
The playground is built in memory of Quinn Butt, who was found dead in her father’s Carbonear home in 2016. It is the second of its kind, with the other having been built in Paradise in 2016. This one, located on Woodcrest Estates – a new subdivision in Carbonear – has been in the works for several months, with original planning taking place in May of 2017.
Quinn’s father, Trent Butt, has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder and arson charges, and has a trial scheduled for March of 2018.
The playground was officially opened to the public Sunday afternoon by Quinn’s mother, Andrea Gosse, alongside family, friends, and one of the playground’s organizers, Adam Stead, who has been at the forefront of both playgrounds since first hearing Quinn’s story.
“It was my daughter, actually, that originally convinced me that we should build a playground,” Stead told The Compass after the playground had been opened. “The first one was built in Paradise, and then we went and renovated the Iris Kirby House, and now, we’ve got this playground as well, so through all that we’re really trying to push a message about raising awareness for domestic violence.”
The $75,000 playground was met with a positive response by dozens of children, many of which were friends of Quinn’s, who attended the opening and wasted no time enjoying the park and all it had to offer.
Stead also explained that the idea of building a third playground in the future was also a possibility, and although there were no concrete plans, he said that starting up another fundraiser in order to accommodate a third Quinn’s Place playground in another community is something he may look into in 2018.
Quinn’s mother was also pleased to see the second playground built in Carbonear, where many of her friends live.
“It’s hard to believe that we have not one, but two official Quinn’s Place playgrounds now,” Gosse said, prior to the opening of the playground. “It fills me with so much pride to see her legacy live on through this. Anyone who knew Quinn knew how much she loved playing with her friends, she was quite the social butterfly.”
Gosse also explained that the playground was not the only way Quinn’s family had chosen to honour her memory. An annual bursary has been created, called the Rockstar Award, which is to be given to anyone aged 12 to 18-years-old looking to give back to their community.
The $2,500 award was given out for the first time in July to Jorja Hinks of Goulds, who used the funds to found the I Am movement.
“The I Am movement is an initiative to empower women, restore self love and self worth, and bring women together who are passionate about lifting each other up and supporting one another,” said Hinks on the movement. “It has to stop.”
“Quinn’s Place is a perfect way to honour her,” said Gosse. “But the fact remains that everyone is here today, because she is not. That will never be an easy thing to come to terms with.”
