Sudbury park to be renamed in honour of teen killed by drunk driver

Morning North4:22Sudbury Park will be named in honour of teen killed by drunk driver

The family of Sudbury teen DJ Hancock, who was killed by a drunk driver, are hoping his name will soon be known for something else. A new park in the city will be named after him. CBC's Marina von Stackelberg spoke with DJ's parents and the park designer.

A Sudbury park is set to be refurbished and renamed in memory of a local teen who was killed by a drunk driver.

Eighteen-year-old DJ Hancock was driving back from hockey tryouts along Highway 17 in August 2014 when his car was hit by a drunk driver.

In the wake of Hancock's death, family friend Melissa Sheridan said she approached his parents about an idea so Sudbury would know his name for more than his death.

"I came up with the idea a couple weeks after the funeral for DJ, wanting to create a way to remember him, to give the family somewhere to go where they weren't haunted by the memory that they saw that night," Sheridan said.

Hancock's mother Kim said the park will keep her son's memory alive.

"As a parent, when you lose a child, you don't want people to forget your child. That's important. It's important for people to talk about him. The way he was killed was very unfair. So this [park] is a happy memory."

Park design will feature hockey theme

DJ Hancock Memorial Park will be built on the current site of Lockerby park, which is located at the intersection of Walford Road and Ramsey View Court.

The plan includes a splash pad designed to look like a hockey rink, a new play structure, benches and a memorial statue of a hockey player.

Sudbury parks can be renamed in memory of someone if a third of the funds are raised by friends and family.

In this case, the Hancock family have raised 100 per cent of the cost to build the park. Through fundraisers and donations, they have gathered about $200,000 in cash and donated items.

Hancock's father Dean said it's been a long process, but it's a great feeling that the park will soon be a reality.

"I just can't wait to sit down and have a coffee on one of those benches and watch the kids play in the park."

Kim Hancock said the park will give back to everyone, and be a happy place for people to remember DJ.

"It's keeping our son's name alive. It's going to be a great memorial to DJ," she continued.

"His friends have come to us and even said someday they'll have kids and take their kids to the 'DJ Hancock Memorial Park'. And they'll be able to say 'Hey, this was my friend'."

City councillors are expected to give the park final approval next week.

The Hancocks said they hope to start construction on the park this spring.