When my son asks to play in our neighborhood outside, my heart sinks a little. We live on an arterial street where there are no local playgrounds within a walking distance, or sidewalks for him to safely walk to friends' homes. There are no safe spaces for him or the other children in our neighborhood to enjoy nature, play games, and swing to their hearts’ content. This is not just about my son; it’s about all the children and adults in our neighborhood.

Jackson Park has long been a beautiful green space that residents of our community admire. We are truly lucky to live by such a beautiful trail and park and our intention is not to cause harm or take away any of this green space, but to add to it and utilize unused or empty space. Without a playground and a safe way for children to get to it, it remains just a golf course and open area that doesn’t fully serve its potential for a lot of the residents here. While beautiful, it isn't fully accessible to all members of our neighborhood. Our community, rich in diversity and vitality, is missing a focal point for children to safely play and adults to conveniently meet and interact. Imagine a place where kids laugh freely on the swings, parents engage in meaningful conversations while watching their kids play, and community events unite us all. We have a wealth of folks of all ages who desire connection with each other, so let's create that opportunity!

The addition of a playground in Jackson Park will provide a much-needed safe haven for our children. According to a study by the National Recreation and Park Association, children who live near green spaces are more active, leading to healthier lifestyles. Moreover, parks are fundamental in fostering community spirit by providing a venue where residents can forge new friendships and strengthen old ones. When those green spaces have equipment, playgrounds, or child friendly structures to build connections with others, all our lives feel more meaningful and connected. 

The city plans and budgets should prioritize the development of community-centric amenities like playgrounds because they foster wellbeing and support healthy childhood development. Engaging with city planners and local representatives can help us secure the funding needed to make this dream a reality. The city has prioritized public transportation construction in our neighborhood, specifically on 10th Avenue NE for the incoming Link Light Rail stop at 130th Street. While we are grateful to connect our neighborhood to the greater city, we also realize this has deprioritized structures to connect our children, older adults, neighbors, and community as a whole. Building sidewalks and a shared playground space on 10th Avenue NE will be a great addition to this project and could be the cherry on top for the city's goal of connecting people not just across the city, but in our own neighborhoods. Sidewalks on 10th Avenue NE would allow a safe passage for all of us to the trail, p-patch, and potential (hopeful) playground, since it is an arterial street with high volumes of traffic and unable to be a considered for healthy street protections or considerations. 

Please join me in urging the city council to allocate resources for a new playground in or near Jackson Park, more specifically the trail/p-patch/golf course area. By signing this petition, you contribute to creating a safe and inclusive environment for our children and a stronger, more connected community. Let’s give our kids the joy of play and the community the unity it deserves. Sign the petition today, please!