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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MzzzMariah

5:21 pm on Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Your Welcome!   more ›

Speak Up, O'Fallon: Many Residents are Pro-Skate Park. Are You?

While some in the community have expressed their concern, others are happy about the new Westhoff Skate Park. Which side are you on? Share your thoughts, right here.

After a recent discussion between concerned residents and the O’Fallon Parks and Recreation staff about the new Westhoff Skate Park, some community members kept talking. While some people expressed concerns about the noise and trash the new park could bring to the neighborhood, many believe that it’s more of a positive for the community than the negative. Don’t Judge Skaters By Their Looks, Mom Says One Patch reader, Michele, said that her son and his friends skate at Westoff regularly, and that they enjoy it because it’s free and no one bothers them. “As a group, I have found the skaters and bikers to be respectful kids who help each other out, cheer each other on and take care of their skate/riding surface,” she said. “I have personally …

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O'Fallon Hosts Grand Opening For New Westhoff Skate Park Saturday

he park is located in Westhoff Park at the entrance near T.R. Hughes Boulevard and Cool Springs Industrial Drive.

O'Fallon Plans Grand Opening For New Westhoff Skate Park in November

The park is located in Westhoff Park at the entrance near T.R. Hughes Boulevard and Cool Springs Industrial Drive.

Local skaters and bikers will have a new place to ride in O'Fallon next week.  A skate park under construction in Westhoff Park at the entrance near T.R. Hughes Boulevard and Cool Springs Industrial Drive will open to the public next Saturday.  The Westhoff Plaza park is made of concrete and measure around 10,600 square feet in size, with street and bowl skateboarding features. The City of O’Fallon’s grand opening for the park is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. The event will feature:  O'Fallon City Council approved the $399,176.46 construction contract with Hardcore Shotcrete Skateparks at the July 12 meeting and construction began in August. The O'Fallon Parks and Recreation Department has worked on the project for …

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O’Fallon Skate Park Under Construction in Westhoff Park

The park under construction in Westhoff Park at the entrance near T.R. Hughes Boulevard and Cool Springs Industrial Drive is expected to be complete by early December.

Editor's Note: This article was updated at 8:15 a.m. with the correct size of the skate park. O’Fallon skaters and bikers will have a new place to ride before the end of the year. A skate park is under construction in Westhoff Park at the entrance near T.R. Hughes Boulevard and Cool Springs Industrial Drive.  The Westhoff Plaza park will be made of concrete and measure around 10,600 square feet in size, with street and bowl skateboarding features. According to O'Fallon Public Relations Director Tom Drabelle, construction is expected to be complete around Thanksgiving or early December. O'Fallon City Council approved the $399,176.46 construction contract with Hardcore Shotcrete Skateparks at the July 12 meeting and construction began in …

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Jordan Lanham

1:53 pm on Friday, September 7, 2012

Thanks for the comment Thomas! The park is for skate boards and bikes.   more ›

5 Things To Do Before Summer Ends

Summer isn’t officially over until September, but school starts next week.

For families in O'Fallon, summer will be over soon—despite the scorching temperatures. Most O'Fallon students start class on Aug. 15. Now's the time to grab last minute summer fun. Temperatures are expected to remain in the high 90s for the next few weeks, but after highs of 105+, a 95 degree day may seem perfect for a walk in the park.  Here’s a few ideas on how to squeeze the last bits off fun out of your kid’s summer break. Hit a park: Kids love playgrounds and the summer heat has been keeping a lot of children tucked away in their basements playing video games. If you still think it’s too hot, try going in the early morning or late evening hours. Try one of these parks with great playgrounds: Westhoff Park, Fort Zumwalt Park, Civic …

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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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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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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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