By , Special to JTNews
Parents with children in the Stroum Jewish Community Center’s (JCC) preschool program breathed a sigh of satisfaction as the first play structures were installed in the Janet Berman Memorial Playground at the JCC’s Mercer Island facility Oct. 22.
The playground was planned as a way to remember Janet Berman, a former JCC member with children in the Early Childhood Services (ECS) program, who lost her life in a tragic car accident. “ECS parents coordinated a fund-raiser to create a playground in her memory,” said ECS Director Dana Weiner, “and urban landscape architect and former ECS parent John Bernhard donated his time, money and amazing creative talents” to design it.
Eventually, the playground will have a custom-designed Israeli-Jewish theme, complete with a Masada-style rock structure for climbing, a kibbutz, and a Jerusalem wall, Weiner said. Until additional funds are raised to complete the project, however, the ECS department decided to use the funds already raised to install sandboxes, play platforms, and a water play system, with flowing water spouts, communal troughs and basins.
“We already have a special playground for children ages two-and-a-half and up,” said Weiner, “and we wanted something for the ones and twos to enjoy.”