Submitted Photos Pictured from left to right are Jen De Melo, Vice President of Innovation & Strategic Partnerships at KABOOM!; Marybeth Muldowney, Revitalize Dunkirk Trail Committee Chair; and Mary Wilson, Life Trustee of the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation.

The Discovery Way at the Point building project at Dunkirk’s Point Gratiot Park has garnered so much attention, one of the most influential philanthropists in all of Western New York felt compelled to stop by on Thursday morning to check out the progress.

Mary Wilson, Life Trustee of the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, visited the trail at Point Gratiot Park to meet with dozens of volunteers supporting the project on Thursday morning, alongside nonprofit playspace specialist company KABOOM!

The project is funded by the Ralph C. Wilson Jr. Foundation, which was established by her late husband, the former owner and founder of the Buffalo Bills. Mary Wilson spoke about the project with a member of Revitalize Dunkirk at a recent event and decided to make the effort to see it come to fruition.

“Having Mary Wilson arrive here on-site was just such a joy,” said Marybeth Muldowney, Revitalize Dunkirk Trail Committee Chair. “For someone of her caliber to show up — by herself, no entourage — and spend time, and so genuinely be appreciative of what the volunteers were doing was just wonderful to see.”

Dunkirk Mayor Kate Wdowiasz was also in attendance to volunteer on Thursday, along with students and staff from Dunkirk High School, P-Tech, and Nestle Purina assisting with the project. Muldowney estimated roughly 70 volunteers in attendance on Thursday.

Mary Wilson, center, is surrounded by members of the KABOOM! Team and Kravitz Tree Service employees on the trail at Point Gratiot Park on Thursday morning.

“For all the volunteers, it has been a labor of love. They’ve been amazing,” said Jim Enser of Revitalize Dunkirk.

Discovery Way at the Point is a nature-based play and exploration project to provide unique opportunities for local children at one of Dunkirk’s most scenic parks. The space includes educational activities based on plants and natural materials, as well as sensory experiences along a natural, play-themed trail.

“What we’re doing is really special because we’re finding a new way for kids to connect with nature that’s not just walking a trail. We’re trying to engage kids’ bodies and minds,” said Lex Lesley, Project Manager of Play-space Construction and Design at KABOOM! “It’s really new and exciting. We hope that kids will be coming out here for years to come.”

Discovery Way at the Point is a collaboration between Revitalize Dunkirk, the City of Dunkirk, the Northern Chautauqua Community Foundation, the Ralph C. Wilson Foundation, and KABOOM! In addition, many area businesses, organizations, and individuals are supporting the project through loaned equipment or donations.

“The community has been so supportive, it’s unbelievable,” said Muldowney. “We have a strong core group that is amazing … and we’ve got a construction group that is just phenomenal. Revitalize Dunkirk is a wonderful organization. They do great things, and this is just another great project that they have done.”

OBSERVER Photo by Braden Carmen Pictured is part of the play equipment assembled along the trail at Point Gratiot Park.

All throughout the week, dozens of volunteers have shown up to push the project forward. Lesley said, “A lot happens every single day. Every day, momentum builds and people get more and more excited.”

Enser said that the City of Dunkirk has been “fabulous” to work with throughout the process. “It has been a really, really nice collaboration,” he said.

Lesley added, “I hope that people know how much the adults of Dunkirk and Revitalize Dunkirk care about this community. They have put in countless hours, months, years of effort. It has felt so special working in this community. Everybody is so warm and passionate. It has been a true joy.”

Build Week concludes Friday afternoon with a ribbon cutting at 3 p.m. To learn more about Discovery Way at the Point, visit Revitalize Dunkirk’s Facebook or website: revitalizedunkirk.com. A map, site plans, and a history of the project can be found by clicking on “Point Gratiot Trail” in the drop down menu under “What We Do.”