The legacy of Ryan Kennedy continues to live on in Independence Township as the memorial playground built in his honor opened with a ribbon cutting on Saturday morning.
“Today is a beautiful day,” said Kim Karp, Ryan’s mom, before apologizing she might cry. “It’s okay because it’s a happy day and sad day all in one. Today is a beautiful day, my friends will now be able to take their kids to a park and play. They send me pictures letting me know they are remembering and honoring Ryan.”
Ryan passed away five years ago on May 26, 2012 after a five-year battle with Ependymoma, a form of brain cancer.
“His No. 1 desire was for us to live our lives like we never had cancer,” she shared.
She thanked and recognized everyone for their efforts.
“We appreciate everything you have done,” Kim said. “We are looking forward to you enjoying this park and continuing to let Ryan’s memory live on. There will never be a day that goes by I won’t think about Ryan and remember his touch or his laughter. He was such a kind and compassionate soul. I was blessed to have been chosen to be his mother for ten years. Our family and our community will remember and honor him because his life mattered. I pray everyone will enjoy this playground. God Bless you all for making this playground a possibility.”
“As a father of two children, no parent should ever suffer the loss of a child,” said Derek Smith, director of Independence Township Parks, Recreation & Seniors. “The love is never lost. In Ryan’s case the love for him brought this community together to the love of every child. Today we celebrate Ryan, his family and the bond of our community in his memory by opening this playground of $200,000 of climbing. It’s amazing.”
The Ryan Kennedy Memorial Playground was made possible through fundraising by volunteers and the township’s board of trustees; as well as effort and support from the parks, recreation and seniors department and every donor.
“This is truly a community built effort,”: Smith said. “This is what makes Independence Township and Clarkston an incredible community to live, work and play in when a community can come together for a love of a child to make sure children of the future always have a safe and inviting place to play. For Ryan’s legacy, he lives on touching the lives of every child who plays here.”
~Wendi Reardon Price

  Clintonwood Park, Ryan Kennedy, Ryan Kennedy Memorial Playground