Memorial playground opens for Nathan O'Brien after life cut short in triple murder

A playground has opened in northeast Calgary in memory of five-year-old Nathan O'Brien, who was killed along with his grandparents three years ago.

Nathan had just finished kindergarten when he died.

Nathan's parents, Jennifer and Rod O'Brien, chose to put Nathan's Playground in the community of Mayland Heights at EvenStart Child Development Centre.

• 'How can a kid who is only five years old die?'

The centre supports children who've been abused, neglected or impacted by poverty.

"We're moving forward, trying to do good in the world," Rod told the Calgary Eyeopener Friday morning. "It's a way for us to give back in Nathan's name."

"For me, it's also good trumping over evil," Jennifer said.

"This is another way for good to win, and I just believe my parents and Nathan are certainly looking down on us, proud of us and what we're doing in honour of them."

The playground includes both an indoor play area with tunnels and slides, and outdoor playground, a garden and a clubhouse the best part, according to Nathan's little brother, Max.

"He's just as rambunctious as Nathan, and he's a playground junkie too, so he's going to have a blast," Rod said.

The idea for the playground came out of a Christmas party with family and friends. That night, they raised $17,000.

The funds were matched by the Spruce Meadows Leg Up Foundation and the Nathan O'Brien Children's Foundation quickly boosting the funds raised to$54,000.

'A natural fit'

The child development centre, EvenStart, has a new school building opening in September.

"It just seemed like a natural fit, and I walked in to that building and immediately fell in love with the educators and all of the children," Jennifer said. "We really wanted to help them out."

On Friday, Nathan's parents will hang the clubhouse sign and plant carrots and herbs to start the garden, which will grow vegetables the children will make into meals.

EvenStart is having a celebration barbecue, which is open to everyone, for the official playground opening on Sept.6.

The man who killed Nathan and his grandparents, Douglas Garland, was sentenced in February to life in prison with no chance of parole for 75 years, meaninghe will die in prison.

"For us as parents, that's our opportunity to be a parent forNathan still," Rod said.

"Keeping his spirit alive," Jennifer added.

With files from the Calgary Eyeopener