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“It is our desire to turn this tragic loss into something constructive for all people who have expressed a need to help.”
--Annie’s Parents
On June 5, in coordination with a meeting of Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.’s executive cabinet in Belair, representatives from cabinet agencies visited various sites in Harford County. Secretary of the Environment Kendl P. Philbrick toured Annie’s Playground with representatives of numerous other agencies and volunteers including the Secretary of Natural Resources C. Ronald Franks and Jim Harkins, director of the Maryland Environmental Service (MES)
Commemorative Effort
Annie’s Playground is a volunteer developed park created to remember and honor Annie McGann Cumpston, a 6-year-old Harford County resident who was hit and killed by a drunk driver as she was leaving the circus with her family in Baltimore City. The 60,000 square-foot site includes a tree house, amphitheater, outdoor classroom, puppet theater, dragon, baseball area, courtyard and memorial garden.
Tread Spread
The Maryland Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Program Open Space provided $1.26 million for Harford County to acquire Edgeley Grove Farm Park and an additional $540,000 for recreational development on the site. Harford County gave the playground portion to the Annie McGann Cumpston Playground Foundation for the creation of the memorial playground. The play area was covered with 580,620 pounds of Tread Spread, a mulch like product made from scrap tires (29,031 to be exact) that is soft, rubbery and forgiving, at a cost of $87,093. MDE contributed $40,000 toward the spread, Harford County $15,000, and MES donated the remaining $32,093.
Annie’s parents, Tom and Meg Cumpston led the tour along with Annie McGann Cumpston Playground Foundation board members Lucy Lutche, Kym DiPeso and Sallie Otenasek and their children. The Cumpstons and board members later attended the Governor’s Cabinet meeting and were recognized for their efforts and had photos taken with the Governor
“It is our desire to turn this tragic loss into something constructive for all people who have expressed a need to help,” said Meg Cumpston, Annie’s mother. “This playground will remember not just Annie, but all children who have died too soon either from illness or accidents.
Secretary Philbrick, a Harford County resident said “When my grandchildren visited from out of town, I brought them here. Now when they come to town the first thing they ask, when are we going to Annie’s playground? It is a beautiful park, wonderful memorial and recreational place for the kids.”
Future Additions
In addition to the playground, the county plans to install a natural seating amphitheater, sports fields that will operate under the Fallston Recreation Council, and a walking trail that spurs off the
Ma and Pa trail.
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