Along the Redbud Trail in Andover is a simple place that has quietly become part of our community.

The Magic Treehouse and swings are used and loved by children, teenagers, families, walkers, cyclists, and neighbors of all ages. Children stop there to play. Teenagers gather there outdoors. Families pause during bike rides and walks. Adults sit on the swings for a few peaceful minutes before continuing down the trail.

It is not a formal park or a large public project, but that is part of what makes it special. It grew naturally into a place where people stop, connect, play, and enjoy being outside.

We have now learned that the City would like the treehouse and swings removed because of liability concerns.

We understand and respect the City’s responsibility to consider public safety and liability. There is already a liability notice posted at the site. Rather than removing something that has become meaningful to so many residents, we are asking the City Council and City staff to work with the community to explore reasonable alternatives that could allow it to remain.

Those alternatives might include additional signage, safety modifications, periodic inspections, an agreement regarding maintenance or responsibility, or another solution recommended by the City.

Our request is simple:

Please do not remove the Magic Treehouse and swings until every reasonable option for preserving them has been considered.

Communities need places like this.

We build playgrounds because children need opportunities to climb, swing, explore, and take reasonable risks. We build trails because people need places to walk, ride, gather, and spend time outdoors. The Magic Treehouse has become an extension of that same spirit.

There will always be some level of risk in outdoor recreation. A child can fall from playground equipment, a bicycle, or a tree. The goal should be reasonable safety, not the elimination of every possible risk at the expense of the experiences that make a community vibrant.

The Magic Treehouse costs the community very little, yet gives something difficult to measure in dollars: joy, connection, outdoor activity, childhood memories, and a sense that the Redbud Trail belongs to the people who use and care for it.

Before we lose this place, we are asking our City leaders to listen to the people who experience it every day and to help us find a solution.

Please sign this petition if you believe the Magic Treehouse and swings should be allowed to remain.

We also ask you to take a few minutes to leave a comment describing what the treehouse means to you, your children, your family, or your experience on the Redbud Trail. These personal stories will be shared with the Andover City Council so they can understand that this is more than a structure. It is a place that has become meaningful to the community.

We are not asking the City to ignore safety.

We are asking the City to work with us.

Please help us preserve the Magic Treehouse and swings and keep a little bit of magic along the Redbud Trail for the families who enjoy it today and for those who will discover it in the years to come.