DJ Hancock Memorial Park in Sudbury a place for 'better memories'

Two years after an 18-year-old Sudbury man was killed by a drunk driver, a new park has openedin his name.

The DJ Hancock Memorial Park is located onWalfordRoad besideLockerbyComposite School.

It includes a splash padand a green area with benches to commemorate Hancock's life.

His mom Kim saidshe hopes kids will create good memories in the space.

"It's supposed to be a happy spot, so maybe better memories," she said.

"DJ loved kids. He would love the park. You know, just kids having fun and smiling and running and laughing. That's just the kind of kid he was."

Hancock's hockey coach, Albert Corradini, saidhe wants the park to serve as a reminder for people not to drive under the influence.

"I hope kids and families enjoy it," he said."But I really hope [it's] more than that. That people kind of recognize it's something that's standing not for a good reason, but rather for a bad reason."

Hancock was killed on Highway 17, when he was coming home after a hockey try-out.

• DJ Hancock's parents call for stiffer drunk driving sentences

Walter Carterpleaded guilty to impaired driving causing death in the Aug. 2014crash on Highway 17 that killed Dean Maxwell "Junior" (DJ) Hancock. He also pleaded guilty to three other charges.