Grandmother Park Breaks Ground Friday

Four years ago, Evanston grandmothers Gay Riseborough and Mary Trujillo were out walking with their 4-year-old grandsons and got to talking about how there was no designated outdoor area to take the tots to play when they visited.

So they took it upon themselves to change that by launching the "Grandmother Park Initiative."

Neighbors then formed a committee to raise money to purchase an empty residential lot at 1125 Dewey Ave., where a foreclosed home had burned down.

The group partnered with Openlands, a nonprofit metropolitan conservation organization, to purchase the space. Openlands held the space for the group as members raised the necessary funds.

The target goal of $250,000 has now been raised, paving the way for Grandmother Park to finally be created and dedicated to toddlers and their families and caregivers.

Groundbreaking

A groundbreaking ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2 with members of the Grandmother Park Initiative attending along with Second Ward Alderman Peter Braithwaite. The public is welcome, too.