Video: Buffalo Grove Park District Dedicates Rebuilt Playgrounds

Nearly a year after the Alcott Park playground was ruined by arson, the park — along with the new Lexi Kazian playground — is officially open.

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

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Alcott Park Dedication Planned

The Buffalo Grove Park District will dedicate the reconstructed Alcott Park playground and the newly built Lexi Kazian playground on Sept. 17.

The Buffalo Grove Park District will host the dedication of the reconstructed Alcott Park playground and the newly built Lexi Kazian playground at 1 p.m. Sept. 17. Most of the Alcott Park playground was destroyed by an act of arson in November 2010, causing over $80,000 in damage. At that time, the Lexi Kazian Foundation - Helping From Heaven, expressed interest in helping to restore the playground, even though the cost would be covered by insurance. The Lexi Kazian Foundation- Helping From Heaven is a 501(c)(3) charity dedicated to helping improve the comfort and quality of life of children with special needs. Through donated funds and resources, the organization provides children who have varied handicaps or developmental delays with …

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Alcott Park Reopens, Additional Improvements Planned

A charitable foundation is donating funds that will help the Buffalo Grove Park District improve the north side of the playground.

Buffalo Grove’s Alcott Park officially reopened Friday, six months after much of the playground was destroyed by fire. The replacement of burned structures and the cushy surface have restored the playground to its original state. But improvements at the park will continue this spring, thanks in part a donation from a local foundation. The Lexi Kazian Foundation — Helping From Heaven, whose mission includes helping to fund handicapped-accessible parks, initially reached out to Buffalo Grove with an offer to help finance the repairs at Alcott Park. The $82,000 repairs were covered by the Buffalo Grove Park District’s insurance policy, but the foundation still wanted to contribute. Foundation and park district officials decided to collaborate…

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Mike Terson

4:21 pm on Thursday, May 26, 2011

Thank you both for your comments and for explaining that so well. It is so nice to see everyone enjoying that playground again.   more ›

Weekly PatchCast: Accused Arsonist Released on Bond, Haley Eliminated From Idol

A roundup of the top stories for the week of May 15.

Here are the top stories for Patch sites in your area this week:  Firefighters Respond to Wheeling House Fire  Accused Arsonist Released on Bond Crystal Lake Woman Sentenced for Robbing Cary Bank Haley Eliminated on American Idol Church Plans 61st Rummage Sale

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Alcott Park Repairs Begin

The playground, which was destroyed by fire three months ago, is expected to reopen by summer.

The rebuilding process is underway at Alcott Park, after a fire destroyed much of the playground in November. Workers were on hand Wednesday to begin what is expected to be a multi-day cleanup project, as the burned rubber surface is removed and charred and melted equipment is replaced. While only a portion of the playground’s surface — made from a thick, cushy material that helps minimize injuries when kids fall — was ruined in the fire, the entire playground surface will be replaced to keep it uniform, Buffalo Grove Park District spokesman Mike Terson said. “You want it to be one smooth stone, so to speak,” he said. Insurance will cover the cost of the repairs, which totaled about $82,000, he said. The rebuilt park will closely resemble …

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Life As I Know It

Arsonists Owe Residents Personal Apologies

Setting a playground on fire is a low thing to do.

I've spent many a sunny afternoon at the Alcott Center's playground. The playground has everything a parent of a young child could ask for — a nice, cushy surface to break a fall, an assortment of swings, and equipment that can easily be climbed.  It's also the perfect size — it's large enough that Gracie can run around on the equipment, but small enough that I can easily keep an eye on her at all times.  Buffalo Grove has the sort of park district that most communities can only dream of, and I'm so lucky that I live here. I have enjoyed exploring the many parks in our community, and I'm continually amazed with the level of care and quality for each one. I've had a lifelong affection for a good park. After all, I'm from Chicago, which has …

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