Video: Buffalo Grove Park District Dedicates Rebuilt Playgrounds

As a child in Buffalo Grove, Kristy Kazian played at .

When her own daughter was born, she wanted her, too, to experience playground fun. But trips to parks turned out to be more work than pleasure for the Kazians, who found that many facilities were not designed for children with special needs.

“Going to a playground became not so fun,” said Kristy Kazian, who struggled to maneuver 2-year-old Lexi’s wheelchair over the ground, and then found much of the equipment too difficult to use.

“When she passed away, I said, ‘How can we make parks better?’” she said.

Kristy and her husband, Kris, began The Lexi Kazian Foundation — Helping From Heaven, which aims to improve the quality of life for children with special needs. Since its inception in 2005, the foundation has helped make parks in three states — including one in the Kazians’ hometown Libertyville — more accessible.

When the family heard about , they wanted to help with the repairs. Park improvements are a focus for the Kazians, who found additional meaning in the project. Kris works as a firefighter and Kristy grew up as one of seven children in the Dumrauf family, just a few blocks from the Alcott Center.

Because the damaged equipment was covered by insurance, the foundation offered to support the renovation of the adjacent equipment at the west end of the park. On Sept. 17, the , which now boasts a smooth surface, ramps and a swing that can be used by all children, including those with special needs. The renovated park is the result of a $32,500 donation from the foundation, which was assisted by private donors and a $7,500 contribution from Hitachi Corporation.

The park, which was completed earlier this summer, was officially opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the unveiling of a plaque bearing Lexi’s name. (See video.)

Seeing the playground created in her daughter’s memory “just makes my heart 50 times bigger than it was yesterday,” Kristy Kazian said.

“Any opportunity that we have to keep Lexi’s name and memory alive means the world to us,” she said.

“We want to make a difference in people’s lives. It might just be a smile, and it might be a project like this,” Kris Kazian said.

By honoring Lexi’s life through the foundation, the Kazian family often does both. While they work to serve others, their daughter is never far from their minds.

“See how nice and beautiful [the weather] is? We kind of know she’s with us,” Kris Kazian added.

The dedication was held in conjunction with a ceremony celebrating the newly reconstructed Alcott Park. (See video.) Park district officials honored Buffalo Grove firefighters and police officers for their involvement in the arson case, which ended with charges filed against four teenagers.