On Saturday, May 23 at 11 a.m., Lakeside Chautauqua will host a ribbon-cutting for the all-new Veith Family Friendship Playground, an inclusive playground located in Cherry Park.
“We are excited about the opportunity to expand who can experience and enjoy Lakeside’s parks,” said Charles Allen, Lakeside Chautauqua President & CEO. “Adding accessible features welcomes more children into the joy of play in Lakeside.”
A Vision Born from Inspiration
When a July 2025 storm caused a tree to fall on and damage Cherry Park’s existing boat play feature, a Lakeside family was inspired to help create a playground to welcome children and families of all ages and abilities.
“We envisioned a place where a child in a wheelchair and a child who runs and a child with Down syndrome and a grandparent and everyone in between could all belong equally,” said Brian Veith and Emily Pan. “A place where the experience of play was not limited by ability but expanded it.”
This new playground was supported by a transformational gift from the Veith Family, the generosity of other Lakeside families and grant funding.
The Veith Family’s Story
Brian and Emily are the parents of twin daughters, Estella and Luna, who has Down syndrome. The family enjoys Lakeside for the facilities and activities that allow their daughters to play, learn and build friendships together.
“We can let Estella and Luna run and play and just be kids, freely, joyfully, without worry,” they shared. “That gift is not something we take lightly, especially as parents of a child with special needs.”
The Veiths were inspired to contribute to this park transformation after visiting an inclusive playground in Cincinnati with their daughters. While there, they noticed a woman with Down syndrome enjoying the same experience their eight-year-olds were having, as her father watched.
“He was watching her with the most peaceful, grateful expression,” Brian and Emily recalled. “We stood there and knew exactly what we needed to do. We saw our own future in that scene. We saw Luna. We saw ourselves on that bench, decades from now, watching her thrive.”
Cherry Park’s New Future
Over the fall and winter, Lakeside gathered community feedback and worked to reconfigure the Cherry Park space, integrating the new playground, relocating current features, and preserving trees and greenspace.
Located between Fourth and Fifth Streets and Plum and Cherry Avenues, Cherry Park now features a new all-abilities play structure with poured-in-place surface, a large greenspace, Storybook Trail, and the beloved boat that serves as a pretend-play space for children.
The park will reopen to families Memorial Day weekend, following the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“Cherry Park’s future honors our tradition of caring for children and youth and supports every child who plays, imagines, and grows up at Lakeside,” said Allen. “Together, we will ensure that Cherry Park remains a beloved place for all. We are grateful to all who support Lakeside’s mission as we work ‘to enrich the quality of life for all people.'”
