What started a few years ago with the purchase of an old house at the corner of E. 2nd and S. Cherokee St, behind the Post Office, has morphed into Hennessey’s newest park. The property, now a park, purchased by the Hennessey First United Methodist Church, has been in the planning and fundraising stages for several years.
Church pastor, PJ Stewart said, “We wanted a park that the whole community could enjoy.”
The project was funded with private donations within the church along with a grant from the Cherokee Strip Community Foundation of $5,000.
Church member Cliff Vogt said, “The original plan was to build the volleyball court. Then we saw how popular it was and decided to work to build a park everyone could enjoy.”
The park is just about done. It includes a 0 to 5 play area with a slide, a 5 to 12 area with a climbing wall, and 3 regular swings. The park is ADA accessible with sidewalks all the way around it, benches, and picnic tables.
The park has lights, and will soon be fenced along the west and south sides to protect the children. Reverend Stewart said, “We have many more ideas for this wonderful park. The next phase will include a basketball court and some ADA-focused areas.”
The park is in memory of Logan Whittenburg. The official park name and dedication will be announced soon. The church has plans for several special activities starting with Easter.
