Private volunteers in Groveland have begun work on a new playground that will honor a young girl killed in last week's day care crash in Winter Park.
The playground, being built at the Kiddie Land Academy, on Broad Street, will be named in memory of 4-year-old Lily Quintus, whose father, Brian, is a Groveland firefighter and paramedic.
Members of the fire department have been working to give the Kiddieland Academy a makeover, including adding the playground.
A memorial dedication is planned for Saturday at the site of the playground, which volunteers said will also include a community park.
Lily Quintus died after investigators say Robert Corchado crashed a Dodge Durango into the back of a Toyota Solara, sendint it careeing through a KinderCare center in Winter Park. Fourteen other people were injured in the crash, including a dozen other children.
Corchado was charged with fleeing the scene of a deadly crash. He remains in the Orange County Jail on a bond of $100,000.
The driver of the Solara was not charged. The Florida Highway Patrol said no alcohol was found in the other driver's system.
If you would like to donate to the playground construction, you can drop off your donation at the Clermont Home Depot under the name "Hope for the Children."
Mark Nation, the Longwood-based lawyer representing the Quintus family, said in a statement on Saturday that the park being built at Kiddie Land Academy, in Groveland, "has nothing to do with this playground."
As you may have heard, and some of you have reported, there has been fundraising to build a playground using Lily's name at Kiddie Land in Lake County. It is our understanding that there may be ribbon cutting this afternoon at 1 p.m.
The Quintus have nothing to do with this playground. They have no relationship with this playground whatsoever. They have not been asked to participate in any fundraising for the park, or if it was ok to have Lily's name associated with the park. Also, my clients have been contacted by numerous Groveland Fire Department personnel who confirmed that they are also not associated with fundraising for this playground.
Some of the fundraising was conducted through the Home Depot in Clermont. I have contacted the Clermont Home Depot and notified them that the Quintus family has nothing to do with this playground. The Home Depot has agreed to hold all funds raised at their store until this can be sorted out.
While Kiddie Land is free to build their playground, the Quintus are asking that Lily's name not be used in connection with this without their approval.
The Quintus' are contemplating a park in memory of Lily, but any such park or fundraising will be announced officially through my office.