Family members, friends dig in to memorialize Rowan with park
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BOARDMAN -- A pivotal part of David Sweeney's emotional healing is knowing that his late son's legacy is stamped into many people's hearts and minds -- and will soon be rising from the ground.
"This shows how the community has come together to make light out of something dark," Sweeney, of Canfield, said.
Sweeney was referring to the first phase of Rowan's Memorial Playground to be named in honor of his late son, who was shot to death Sept. 21, 2020, during a home-invasion robbery at a Struthers house. Rowan was 4.
The three men convicted of the crime are serving lengthy prison sentences.
The milestone was celebrated during a groundbreaking ceremony Saturday in Boardman Park to usher in what will be a 6,900-square-foot, all-inclusive playground for children of all ages and abilities.
"It's been very hard for me and my family since this," he said about losing Rowan to an act of violence.
Rowan was energetic and vibrant as well as gentle and tender-hearted, someone who was an avid animal lover and enjoyed attending Wee Care Day Care Center in Boardman and Sunshine and Lollipops Day Care in Struthers. Among his favorite items were Star Wars crocs, Nike shoes and Nerf guns. In addition, the child was drawn to superhero figures such as Spiderman, Flash, Captain America and Batman, according to his obituary.
The playground will be similar in many respects to The Walnut Grove in Canfield, a one-acre, all-inclusive, safety-driven and designed playground for which the second phase was completed in mid-2019, Sweeney has said.
In addition to providing plenty of recreational opportunities, Rowan's Memorial Playground will help keep Rowan's memory and legacy alive for many years, he added. Sweeney, who wore a T-shirt bearing the likeness of his beloved son, noted that nearly everyone has to deal with sadness and grief associated with losing a loved one, but for him, the best way to work toward further emotional healing was to tirelessly immerse himself over the past several years into hosting numerous fundraisers and other gatherings to bring the playground idea to fruition -- especially since Rowan loved spending time on them.
To that end, the Rowan Sweeney Memorial Foundation was launched as a charitable trust in 2021 before achieving nonprofit status the following year. The foundation remains committed to raising and offering funds "to enhance and enrich the cultural, charitable and recreational needs of the community and surrounding areas," according to its mission statement.
Calling the many steps toward making the playground project happen "a rollercoaster of emotions," Sweeney said that Boardman Park proved to be the ideal site, largely because it was something borne of a partnership between the park and the foundation.
"It's hard to put this into words.This has been a long road," Gabe Manginelli, Boardman Park's executive director, said.
Aiding in the effort have been a $145,000 contribution from the foundation, along with a $54,319 NatureWorks grant, Manginelli added.
The NatureWorks program provides up to 75% reimbursement assistance to local townships, cities, villages and other government subdivisions to acquire, develop and rehabilitate recreational areas. Since its inception in 1993, the grant program has funded more than 2,300 public park projects in all of Ohio's 88 counties, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' website states.
The playground project also will leave room for future expansions, and the park will eventually add a nature play section in the area, Manginelli added.
Construction on the Rowan Sweeney Memorial Playground likely will get underway in the next week or two, he said.
In about three or four weeks, a ribbon-cutting ceremony likely will occur, Sweeney said.
To make a donation to the foundation, go to www.rowansweeneymemorialfoundation.com, or make a deposit at any Huntington Bank branch. Checks should say "Rowan Sweeney Memorial Foundation" on the payee line.