“Houseman Playground is a beloved playground to the neighborhood. It’s also the only playground in our neighborhood.”
Jacqueline Scherer is the executive director and founder of THE PLAYGROUNDgr, a nonprofit committed to ensuring everyone has access to play-based programs. As chair of the Midtown Neighborhood Association, she says the area surrounding Houseman Field was the only neighborhood in Grand Rapids without a functioning playground.
“So, this was truly it when it came to swings and slides, and we’d experienced some vandalism, we had experienced some things that impacted the beautification of the neighborhood, and we were really ready to reimagine what a Houseman Playground here could look like.”
With the old playground equipment removed, 80 volunteers from multiple local organizations have arrived to build a new Houseman Playground. It coincides with the revitalization of Housman Field, the football stadium used and maintained by Grand Rapids Public Schools.
“We are very excited that they have been doing this around the same time. The universe came together and just really invested in this whole lot.”
Funding for the project came from the City Parks Millage, fundraising efforts, Sinclair Recreation and a GameTime Playground Grant.
A re-opening ceremony will be held at the playground on Friday, September 5th at 4:30 p.m.
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