All-Inclusive Brendan's Playground Hosting First Play Day on Saturday

The O'Fallon playground opened in October 2011 and was named after 9-year-old Brendan Schmitt, a Westhoff Elementary School student who suffers from Thompson Syndrome.

Full-disclosure: O'Fallon Patch Editor Jordan Lanham serves on the board of Unlimited Play Young Professionals.  Families are invited to a play date in the park on Saturday.  Unlimited Play Inc., is hosting one of its first "play dates for all" at the all-inclusive Brendan's Playground at Westhoff Park.  The non-profit that got its start with the dream of one O'Fallon mom now helps communities across the country to build playgrounds that are accessible for children with and without disabilities.  The O'Fallon playground opened in October 2011 and was named after 9-year-old Brendan Schmitt, a Westhoff Elementary School student who suffers from Thompson Syndrome, a rare genetic disease that makes it difficult for him to use traditional …

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5:21 pm on Wednesday, May 1, 2013

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City to Purchase Splash Pad For Brendan’s Playground

O’Fallon City Council approved a resolution to allocate $66,255.84 for the materials and installation of a splash pad on the playground at Thursday night’s meeting.

Kids of all abilities will be able to play and stay cool in the summer heat at Brendan’s Playground in O’Fallon this summer. O’Fallon City Council approved a resolution to allocate $66,255.84 for the materials and installation of a splash pad on the playground, at Thursday night’s meeting. The water feature was part of the original playground design and funding was approved in 2011, but when plans were not finalized for construction the money rolled back into parks and recreation fund. Now the funds have been designated to complete this feature that is meant to help children who have difficulty regulating their body temperature in the summer heat, so they can play along side their friends. Brendan's Playground opened in Westhoff Park in …

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Ameren Donates Trees to Shade Brendan's Playground in O'Fallon

The corporation donated 32 trees for Brendan’s Playground in Westhoff Park.

Brendan’s Playground in Westhoff Park just got shadier, thanks to Ameren Missouri. The corporation donated 32 trees to the park through its Municipal Tree Replacement Program. Ameren staff members also pitched in to plant the trees. “The new trees at Brendan’s Playground will provide spring blossoms, summer shade and autumn colors for people to enjoy for many years to come,”  O'Fallon Landscape Manager Bob Deardeuff said in a news release. “The Parks and Recreation Department especially appreciates the help of the generous individuals who gave their time and got their hands dirty planting trees on a busy Saturday morning.” Brendan’s Playground is the City’s universally-accessible playground that opened in Westhoff Park in October 2011. The…

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Help Raise Money For Brendan's Playground at O'Fallon's Casino Night, Mouse Races

Sign up now for O’Fallon’s Casino Night and Mouse Races fundraiser, which will be held on Saturday, March 31, at the O’Fallon Elks Lodge.

Benefactors throughout the community are invited toto register for O’Fallon’s Casino Night and Mouse Races fundraiser, scheduled for Saturday, March 31, at the O’Fallon Elks Lodge, 1163 Tom Ginnever Avenue.  Casino Night admission is $25 per person for beverages, party snacks, Las Vegas-style activities and mouse racing. The event is open for ages 21 and older. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the races begin at 7 p.m. Event-planners hope to raise money for a much-needed water feature to complete Brendan’s Playground, a universally-accessible playground in Westhoff Park. O’Fallon’s Parks and Recreation Department is betting that people will love an evening of Vegas-style excitement and have a great time, especially at the mouse races. “Whether you…

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Mayor Hennessy Delivers ‘State of the City Address’

O'Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy lists road improvements, technology upgrades, maintaining the city's rank as second safest city in the country and more as priorities for 2012.

Continued maintenance and improvement of city streets top the list of priorities for the City of O’Fallon in 2012. Mayor Bill Hennessy took a look back at city accomplishments in 2011 and shared plans for this year’s upcoming projects during his State of the City Address on Friday morning. “One of my goals when I took office was to see this city invest in our infrastructure and ensure that O’Fallon is a city that remains strong in the future,” he said. “We saw many developments along these lines last year.” The city replaced more than $1 million worth of concrete slabs in O’Fallon subdivisions in 2011 and has $1 million budgeted in 2012 for slab repair and asphalt overlay. But Hennessy said this just isn’t enough and he encourages …

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O’Fallon Mom On a Mission Builds Playgrounds for Every Child

Unlimited Play Inc. helps communities build playgrounds that are accessible for children with and without disabilities.

The Huffington Post has chosen Natalie Blakemore and Victoria Schmitt Babb as its "Greatest Person of the Day"—an honor recognizing people who confront issues in their community with creativity and passion. Natalie Blakemore used to hate playgrounds. The O’Fallon mother dreaded the monkey bars, slides and brightly colored play areas that were no fun for her three-year-old son Zachary. A rare genetic central nervous system disease makes it difficult for Zachary to walk and speak. The playgrounds were making it tough for him to play with his friends without his mom right by his side. Blakemore said park barriers and wood chips were another challenge: Zachary found it hard to make moves in his wheelchair or with his assistive walking device…

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VIDEO: Brendan Schmitt Gives Speech at Grand Opening of O'Fallon Playground

O'Fallon's all-inclusive playground opened Saturday, Oct. 1. The playground was named after nine-year-old Brendan Schmitt, who wrote a special speech for the occasion.

O'Fallon residents celebrated the grand opening of the city's new all-inclusive playground over the weekend.  The playground was named after nine-year-old Brendan Schmitt, a Westhoff Elementary School student who suffers from Thompson Syndrome, a rare genetic disease that makes it difficult for him to use traditional playground equipment. The all-inclusive playground is specially designed with features that allow kids of all abilities to play together. The nature-themed playground features, ADA-accessible ramps connecting nearly all areas, a variety of climbing structures, steel slides that are suitable for children with cochlear implants because the slides do not generate static electricity, a variety of swings so that children of …

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Let's Play: Brendan's Playground Opens in O'Fallon

The all-inclusive playground is specially designed with features that allow kids of all abilities to play together.

After months of planning, fundraising and construction, O'Fallon's all-inclusive Brendan's Playground opened in Westhoff Park over the weekend.  The playground was named after nine-year-old Brendan Schmitt, a Westhoff Elementary School student who suffers from Thompson Syndrome, a rare genetic disease that makes it difficult for him to use traditional playground equipment. The all-inclusive playground is specially designed with features that allow kids of all abilities to play together.  On Saturday afternoon, O'Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy officiated the grand opening ceremony, thanking the numerous volunteers who helped bring the playground to O'Fallon and telling the crowd how inspired he is by Brendan's strength.  “Today is about a young…

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Get Out

Get Out: Hayrides, Brendan's Playground Opens and More

Each week, O'Fallon Patch features a planner with weekend events going on in St. Charles County.

Check out Patch's round-up of events going on in and around O'Fallon this weekend.  St. Charles Community College Idol Competition   Movie in Rotary Park: Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs Brendan's Playground Opening Celebration   Fall Hayrides at Broemmelsiek Park  3rd Annual St. Charles County Seniors Fair Lake Saint Louis Ambassadors Oktoberfest  Walk from Obesity - St. Louis 5K Walk/Run O.A.S.I.S. Food Pantry Benefit Concert Piano Concert at Unity Church of Light Racin' For Rescues     

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Brendan's Playground Set to Open Oct. 1

O'Fallon's all-inclusive park is designed so children with and without disabilities can play together.

O'Fallon's all-inclusive playground is set to open in less than two weeks.  Brendan’s Playground in Westhoff Park is a special park designed so children with and without disabilities can play together in a safe and fun environment.  Families are welcome to bring the kids to the city's grand opening celebration for Brendan’s Playground on Saturday, Oct. 1 at Westhoff Park. The ceremony will also offer refreshments, characters to entertain the kids, a band, and the music of students from J.L. Mudd Elementary School and Westhoff Elementary School General parking for the ceremony will be available in Westhoff Park on the park’s west side. Disabled parking will be available from the new park entrance off T.R. Hughes Boulevard. Read More About …

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