Grandmother Park initiative recognizes supporters

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Col. James Pritzker (from left), project supporter, Mary Adams Trujillo, Grandmother Park co-founder, 2nd Ward Alderman Peter Braithwaite and Gay Riseborough, co-founder, president & chair of the Grandmother Park committee, all of Evanston | Photo by Gen

Updated: February 3, 2012 1:57PM

On Nov. 20, Grandmother Park Initiative, a non-profit initiative to develop a small park for toddlers and their families at 1125 Dewey in West Evanston, recently hosted an event to recognize its most generous supporters.

The celebratory evening of acknowledgment took place at the Evanston History Center at the Charles Dawes House in Evanston. Col. James Pritzker, Evanston resident and project supporter, attended along with Mary Adams Trujillo, Grandmother Park co-founder, 2nd Ward Alderman Peter Braithwaite and Gay Riseborough, co-founder, president and chair of the Grandmother Park committee. Approximately forty guests also attended this event.

In her remarks, Gay Riseborough acknowledged the support of Col. Pritzker, which put the fundraising over the $150,000 mark thus igniting the topical and soil analysis. Also recognized was the charitable donation from IRMCO, located in Evanston’s West Village business district and the Evanston Community Foundation who has provided invaluable support in bringing the project to this exciting milestone. Col. Pritzker offered a few encouraging words during the evening, “I became a grandfather in August of 2010 and quite honestly, I’m hoping this support of Grandmother Park will give my daughter an incentive to travel from the East Coast and visit Evanston more often.” He adds, “I also envision the support of this project to be, in part, a legacy for my children, much like my parents did for me and my grandparents did for my parents.” The plan to create a ‘tot lot,’ which is considered a ‘pocket park’ based on size and location, was conceptualized three years ago by Riseborough and Mary Trujillo who, after a walk through their West Evanston neighborhood, realized there was no play area for their grandchildren. The Initiative continues to seek donations to raise funds to complete construction of the park – with an estimated budget of $234,000.

To learn more about the Grandmother Park Initiative or to support their fundraising efforts, please visit grandmotherpark.org or call (847) 475-5159.