On Saturday, April 28, nearly 500 members of Dublin’s community came out to celebrate the inauguration of Dublin’s 20th park, Sean Diamond Park. Named in honor of Staff Sergeant Sean Diamond, a soldier and Dublin resident who was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq, the park serves as a testament to Diamond’s love for his family and as a memory of his lifetime of service.

Sean Diamond Park’s primary attraction is its 90-foot-long zip line, which is the first of its kind in Dublin. The park also boasts of long walkways lined with flowers, a colorful playground for children, a tennis court, a volleyball net, and picnic tables with barbecue areas.

Residents of the nearby Positano and Jordan Ranch neighborhoods explored the park while children played and took part in the planned activities, including a colorful, billowing parachute and foam airplane building, in honor of Diamond’s favorite toy as a child. Families strolled through the park, enjoying the ice cream and lemonade served as light refreshments.

The red ribbon cutting was done by Diamond’s family, who tearfully remembered the man who would have loved to spend time with his children in such a beautiful park.

For many of the nearby residents, the opening of the park was the end of a long wait for a place for their children to be able to play since the park’s construction has been delayed for years. The wait seems well worth it, based on the happiness of the children frolicking around the park. It seems that Dublin’s newest green facility will be a valuable addition for years to come.