Freedom Playground
Opened in June 2024, Freedom Playground in Elmwood Park began to take shape after the Parks and Recreation Department surveyed residents on what new amenities they wanted to enjoy.
One of the requests: an inclusive playground.
“It’s set up in a way that someone in a wheelchair can easily access it, with sidewalks from the playground to the parking lot,” says Tom Walchanowicz, Director of the Independence Parks and Recreation Department. “We have a lot of elements that special needs kids and adults can use.”
Elements of the playground include a swing that allows multiple people to swing together; a stand-on merry-go-round; and an interactive play feature called Movmnt.
The Kiwanis Club of Independence and the Autism Society each donated $5,000 to help fund the Movmnt piece of equipment.
Elmwood Park Tree Fund
In May 2023, the Elmwood Park Tree Fund took root in Independence.
“It’s a way for the residents to commemorate a loved one and to keep replenishing the trees that we’ve had to cut down,” Walchanowicz says.
The city performs plantings of only native trees in spring and fall, says Ryan Wancata, Parks and Recreation Manager for Independence.
Overall, the Tree Fund has boosted the city’s tree plantings from five to 10 trees a year to nearly 80.
“It’s taken us to the next level. We have high hopes that the number keeps rising,” Wancata says. “It’s really making a difference with our tree canopy in the parks.”
Contact the Civic Center at 216-524-262 for more information on how to participate.
