Publication Date: 03/09/2012

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Partnering with Kids Around the World to Bring Recreation to Others

WHEATON, ILLINOIS ——-The Wheaton Park District has partnered once again with Kids Around the World to send playground equipment, originally located at Briar Patch Park to children around the world. The playground, which was originally installed at Briar Patch Park in 1994, was recently replaced with a new playground. In June, the removed playground was donated. The equipment included structures for school age and pre-school age children, as well as swings, spring rides and sand toys.

The Wheaton Park District also donated the playground equipment that was originally installed at Northside Park to Kids Around the World. The equipment was divided into 4 different units and installed at 4 different churches in Port Au Prince, Haiti.

“Despite the tough economic times, we are glad to be able to replace the playground equipment at Briar Patch Park. The former playground was installed in 1994. After several years, components of playgrounds begin to wear out from use and environmental conditions. The older a set of equipment becomes, the more difficult and costly it is to replace parts that are worn or damaged. We also like to ensure that there are a variety of types of playgrounds throughout the district,” stated Rob Sperl, Director of Planning for the Wheaton Park District.

Kids Around the World was founded in 1994 with the goal to provide safe play equipment for children that found themselves in situations where it was difficult to just be a “kid”. So often children find themselves as victims of situations out of their control, they become victims of economic stress, victims of political injustice, victims of natural disasters, and worst of all, victims of war. It was for these children that Kids Around the World began. Kids Around the World partners with many organizations and foundations to install the playgrounds in these devastated countries around the world.

For more information, please contact Margie Wilhelmi at 630-510-4984 or [email protected].