For the first time since their young son was killed last month, a Fredericton family is sharing their vision for a fitting tribute and a way to give back to the community that has embraced them.

Eight-year-old Jackson Wright was playing baseball in front of his Fredericton home on June 14 when he was struck and killed by an out-of-control vehicle.

“Our lives, our entire lives are changed forever,” said his father, Jeff Wright.

He says his family was immediately embraced by the community they moved to just over two years ago.

“That didn't matter at all. It was very clear that we were part of this community and everybody was here to provide whatever kind of support they can,” Wright said.

“The day after the accident we had people — friends but also strangers — dropping off food, cards, calling us.”

Now Wright and his family continue to heal, they’re working on plans to give back while honouring Jackson’s memory, and remembering how he lived his life.

“If you could hit it, catch it, throw it, save it, pass it, Jackson wanted to do it, and you can't do those things inside so he was a real outdoorsy person,” Wright said.

With that in mind, the family’s thoughts turned to Jackson’s local school: Connaught Street Elementary School and the playground Jackson enjoyed so much there.

“Jackson loved this school, loved his teachers, loved his classmates. It just seemed right to do something here where he spent so much of his time,” Wright said.

That’s why an effort is now underway to raise money for improving the school’s playground in Jackson’s name, with donations being taken by the Fredericton Community Foundation.

“It only made sense for us to become involved because community foundations really have a role to facilitate good in the community, and this is really good on a whole number of different levels,” said Tim Fox, the foundation’s executive director.

So far, $50,000 has been raised for the project. As fundraising continues, the John JT Clark Family Foundation has offered to match the next donation of $25,000.

With files from CTV Atlantic’s Nick Moore